UC-NRLF 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

„...'  •    .'  ' 

• 

Class   ' 


GENERAL 


Fitting  Sbeep 

for  Shoio  Ring 
ana 


W.  3.  Clarke 

'•'•Shepherd  Boy" 


Being  a  Practical  Treatise  on  the 
Selection,  Judging,  Feeding  and 
Care  of  Sheep  and  Lambs  for  the 
Show  Ring  and  Sale  by  Auction. 
To  which  are  added  Chapters  on 
Dressing  Sheep  and  Lambs  for 
the  Market.  .-.  .-.  .'.  -.'.  .: 


CHICAGO.   ILL. 
Draper  Publishing  and  Supply  Co. 

1900 


C 


COPYRIGHTED,  1900, 

BY 

DRAPER  PUBLISHING  AND  SUPPLY  COMPANY, 
CHICAGO,  ILL. 


GENERAL 


Printed  by  Draper  Publishing  and  Supply  Co, 
Chicago.  111. 


Author's  Preface, 

O  more  enchanting  work,  perhaps,  falls  to  the 
lot  of  the  shepherd  than  that  of  the  fitting  of  his 
show  flock  for  battle  in  the  ring.  A  well-fitted 
show-flock  is  the  pride  of  the  shepherd,  the  joy 
of  the  flockmaster,  and  one  of  the  prettiest  and 
most  valuable  object  lessons  that  can  be  pre- 
sented to  lovers  of  rural  life.  Whilst  it  is  unde- 
niably true  that  we  have  many  really  clever  fitters  among  us, 
it  is  no  less  true  that  the  proportion  of  American  born  ones 
is  lamentably  small.  The  reasons  that  may  be  offered  in 
defense  of  such  state  of  things  are  legion;  among  the  most 
prominent  being:  The  jealous  way  in  which  shepherds 
guard  their  "secrets," — so-called, — and  the  half-hearted  way 
in  which  the  majority  of  our  most  popular  works  on  sheep- 
husbandry  treat  on  this  most  important  branch  in  the  man- 
agement of  stud  flocks. 

This  volume  is  not  intended  as  a  brilliant  literary  pro- 
duction, but  as  a  plain,  practical  instructor  to  the  novice 
who  aspires  to  become  proficient  in  the  art  of  fitting  sheep 
for  the  show-ring,  market,  etc. 

What  I  have  gleaned  from  many  years  of  practical  ex- 
perience in  the  fitting  and  handling  of  show-flocks,  in 
the  United  States,  Canada,  and  England,  on  what  I  believe 
to  be  the  most  modern  and  approved  principles,  will  be 
herein  chronicled  in  as  clear  and  terse  a  manner  as  the 
author's  literary  abilities  will  allow.  That  many  of  our 
fraternity  will  find  this  volume  of  value,  and  help  to  them 
is  the  sincere  wish  of 

SHEPHERD   BOY. 


102495 


CONTENTS. 

PART   I. 

FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW. 

Selection — Seek  for  Constitution — The  State  Fair  as  an  Object  Les- 
son—Judgment—Points—The Fleece— The  Skin— Feeding— Feeding  to 
be  Governed  by  Temperament— The  Feeding  of  Lambs— Usual  Way 
of  Feeding  Lambs— Punctuality  in  Feeding— Importance  of  Forcing-* 
What  is  Bloom?— Ewes  Damaged  by  Their .  Own  Urine— Milk-fed 
Lambs — Early  Lambs  Best  for  Show — Getting  Ewes  in  Season — A 
Good  Cress  for  Exhibition  Purposes— Housing— Exe'rcise— Care  of 
Feet— Shearing— Stubble-Shearing— Blocking  Out— Show  Lambs  Not  to 
be  Shorn— Washing— Dipping— Coloring— Trimming— Blanketing— How 
Blankets  are  Made— The  Fitting  of  Wethers— Making  Entries  for 
Show— Starting  for  the  Shows— What  Constitutes  the  Various  Classes 
of  Show  Sheep — Overheating  of  Show  Stock — The  Importance  of  Ex- 
ercise for  Show  Sheep  While  on  the  Circuit— Sheep  Getting  Tired- 
Judging  Day— Showing  Out— How  to  Reduce  Show  Stock— Spring 
Crops— The  Preparation  of  Sheep  for  Sale  by  Auction— Preparing  Rams 
for  Sale 

PART  II. 

GENERAL  MANAGEMENT  OF  THE  FLOCK. 

The  Relation  of  Shepherd  and  Flockmaster— The  Evolution  of  the 
Modern  Mutton  Breeds— On  Purchasing  the  Flock— The  Fleece  of 
Breeding  Stock — Mating — Inbreeding — The  Management  of  the  Ram 
When  in  Service — The  Teaser — The  Sheep  Barn — In  the  Shepherds' 
Room— Ventilation— How  Often  Should  the  Sheep  Barn  be  Cleaned? — 
The  Importance  of  Abundant  Bedding— The  Value  of  a  Straw  Stack 
— The  Importance  of  Keeping  Sheep  of  Different  Ages  Separated— 
Shepherd's  Marking  Ink — Hurdles — Lambing  Pens — The  Care  of  Preg-  ' 
nant  Ewes— Importance  of  Exercise  for  Breeding  Ewes— Change  of 
Pasture— Feeding  the  Breeding  Ewes— A  Cheap  and  Healthful  Ration 
for  Breeding  Ewes— Regularity  in  Feeding— At  What  Time  Should 
Lambs  Come? — Period  of  Gestation — The  First  Symptoms  of  Yean- 
ing—How to  Manage  a  Ewe  When  Yeaning— Troubles  in  Yeaning— 
Ewes  Disowning  Their  Lambs— How  to  Make  Them  Own  Them— 
How  to  Make  a  Stanchion— How  to  Suckle  a  Lamb— Reviving  a  Chilled 
Lamb— Wool  to  be  Clipped  from  the  Ewe's  Flanks  and  Udder— How 
to  Catch  a  Sheep— Raising  a  Cosset  Lamb— Marking  the  Lambs- 
Feeding  the  Lambs— Baby  Fat— Ear-tagging— Weaning— Docking— 


CONTENTS — Concluded. 

Maggots— Breeding  of  Ewe  Lambs— Using  Ram  Lambs— Breeding  of 
Dorsets  Twice  a  Year— How  to  Tell  a  Sheep's  Age— Tagging— How  to 
Drench  a  Sheep— Dipping— The  Shearing  of  Stud  Flocks— Various 
Styles  of  Shearing— On  Tying  the  Fleece. 

PART    III. 
RAISING  HOTHOUSE   LAMBS. 

Ewes  to  be  Stimulated  by  Extra  Feed— Castrating  or  Docking  Spring 
Lambs  Unnecessary— Desirable  Markets— In  the  Hothouse— Rations 
for  Spring  Lambs— Rations  for  the  Breeding  Ewes. 

PART    IV. 

COMMON  AILMENTS  OF  THE  FLOCK  AND  HOW  TO  TREAT 
THEM. 

The  Hospital— The  Stomach  Worm— To  Prevent  the  Attack  of  the 
Gadfly— Constipation— White  Scours— The  Liver  Fluke— Woolballs  in 
Lambs'  Stomachs — Stretches — Navel-ill — Garget — Ewes  Casting  Their 
Withers— Scab— Tapeworm— Inflammation  of  the  Eyes— "Quidders"— 
Diarrhoea  —  Joint-evil  —  Tumors  —  Caked  Udder — Abortion — Lice — The 
Sheep  Tick— Footrot— Grub  in  the  Head— Bloat— Broken  Limbs— Urin- 
ary Troubles  of  Rams— Colic— Rupture— Sore  Teats— How  to  Bleed  a 
Sheep— Nodular  Disease  of  the  Intestines— Hints  on  Making  a  Post- 
Mortem  Examination  (illustrated). 

PART   V. 

FORAGE  CROPS  THAT  ARE  ESPECIALLY  SUITABLE  FOR 
SHEEP. 

Forage  Crops  —  Roots  —  Cabbage  —  Thousand-headed  Kale  —  White 
Mustard— Kohl  Rabi— Common  Turnips— Mangels,  or  Beets— The  Sand 
Vetch— The  Spring  Vetch— Rye— How  to  Raise  Rape — Rape  in  the 
Cernfield— Ensilage— Sainfoin— Alfalfa,  or  Lucerne. 

PART    VI. 

SLAUGHTERING     AND     DRESSING     SHEEP    AND     LAMBS     FOR 
MARKET. 

Selection  of  Fat  Lambs— Fasting— Appliances  for  Slaughtering- 
Sticking— "Pithing"— Legging  —  "Wizzling"  —  Washing  —  Gutting— 
Skewering  up  the  Shanks,  etc.— Fixing  up  a  Lamb— How  to  Fix  a 
Poor  Lamb  to  Make  it  Appear  Fat— Packing  and  Shipping— Clean- 
liness in  Dressing— How  to  Cut  Up  a  Mutton  Carcass— On  Judging 
Mutton  Sheep. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

1.  How  to  make  a   sheep  blanket 3& 

2.  Exterior    view    of    modem    sheep    barn 72 

3.  Interior    view    of    modern    sheep    barn 74 

4.  Ground   plan  of  modern  sheep  barn 76 

5.  Hurdle   No.   1 85 

«.    Hurdle  No.  2 86 

7.  Clamps    used    in    castrating 116 

8.  Diagram    of    dipping    plant 132 

9.  Diagram    of   dipping   plant 134 

10.  Sheep  shorn   the  long  way 138 

11.  Fleams  used  in  bleeding  sheep 195 

12.  Partially    dissected    sheep 200 

13.  Lamb  dressed  with  long  backsets 204 

14.  Lamb  dressed  with  short  backsets 209 

15.  Grade    yearling    wether 218 

16.  Mutton   carcass    225 

17.  Saddle  and  legs  of  mutton : 226 

18.  Dressed    yearling    wether 229 

19.  Lamb  dressed  with  short  backsets— front  view 231 


PLATES. 

I.    A  Typical  English   Scene Frontispiece 

II.    Oxford    Ram     23 

III.  Group    of    Lincolns 51 

IV.  Rambouillet   Ram    "Kaiser" 56 

V.    Hampshires    58 

VI.    Group  of  American  Merinos , 67 

VII.    Cheviot   Ram 81 

Till.    Blackface    Highland    Ram 93 

IX.    Group   of   Dorsets 103 

X.    Shropshire  Ram    Ill 

XI.    Romney   Marsh  Ram 121 

XII.    Dorset    Ram    145 

XIII.    Shropshire  Lambs   150 

XIV.    Southdown   Ram    162 

XV.    Cotswolds 171 

XVI.    Flock  of  Suffolks 179 

XVII.    Delaine     Ram     "Sensation1  T. ..  189 


PART  I. 


Selection. 

N  THE  selection  of  suitable  subjects  for  the 
show-ring,  the  greatest  care  and  soundest  judg- 
ment must  needs  be  employed  to  avoid  disaster 
at  the  outset,  and  animals  carrying  only  the  truest 
impress  and  highest  characteristics  of  the  breed 
II  intended  to  be  represented,  should  be  selected. 

Whilst  size  is  a  most  important  factor  in  the 
make-up  of  a  show  animal,  the  fact  should  not  be  lost  sight 
of  that  quality  must  under  no  consideration  be  sacrificed  at 
the  expense  of  quantity.  That  an  animal  of  extra  large  size, 
possessed  of  extra'  quality,  must  naturally  defeat  an  animal  of 
less  size  and  carrying  no  more  quality  than  its  opponent, 
must  be  at  once  clear  to  the  merest  novice.  It  does  not 
stand  that  no  big  rams  carry  quality  of  a  high  degree  any 
more  than  all  small  or  medium  size  ones  carry  the  superlative 
degree  of  quality.  But  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  a 
happy  combination  of  size  and  quality,  and  vice-versa,  is 
the  key-note  of  the  exhibitors'  success. 

Seek  for  Constitution. 

One  most  important  feature  in  the  selection  of  our  sheep 
is  constitution.     Be  observant  that  both  rams  and  ewes  carry 

7 


FITTING  SHEEP 


the  true  signs  of  constitution,  but  don't  mistake  yourself  that 
coarseness  is  evidence  of  this  valuable  characteristic. 

There  are  many  powerfully  built  sheep,  that  is,  sheep  car- 
rying immense  bone,  which  are  constitutionally  weak.  Many 
of  the  largest  members  of  our  flocks  are  upon  examination 
found  to  be  built  upon  lines  wholly  against  the  laws  that 
denote  strong  constitution.  They  are  slab-sided,  or  in  other 
words,  their  ribs  are  imperfectly  sprung,  they  have  not  the 
necessary  room  for  the  proper  development  of  a  healthy  pair 
of  lungs.  The  muscles  of  the  leg,  the  muscle  fibre,  and  ro- 
tundity of  the  twist  that  show  the  strength  to  carry  a  heavy 
body  are  not  in  evidence,  neither  is  thickness  of  flesh,  breadth 
of  skull,  width  between  the  eyes,  and  the  short,  thick,  stubby 
face  that  denotes  power  of  stubborn  endurance.  ,  Usually  a 
sheep  low  on  leg,  with  well  sprung  ribs,  deep  in  chest,  strong 
in  twist,  carries  a  constitution  that  will  meet  all  ordinary 
requirements  and  expectations  of  modern  shepherds. 

The  State  Fair  as  an  Object  Lesson. 

No  better  opportunity  offers  itself  to  the  novice  for  observ- 
ing what  really  constitutes  quality  of  a  high  degree  in  sheep 
than  that  of  a  visit  to  almost  any  of  our  State  fairs;  especially 
those  of  the  Middle  and  Eastern  states.  Here  we  find  con- 
gregated together  in  battle  array,  some  of  the  finest  specimens 
of  sheep  that  the  world  can  produce,  or  money  purchase; 
and  it  is  here  we  find  ample  room  for  comparison  of  degree 
of  quality  as  pertains  to  the  various  exhibits  of  one  individual 
breed  of  sheep,  or  the  broader  comparison  of  breed  against 
breed;  this,  then,  will  not  fail  to  prove  one  of  the  most 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  9 

interesting   and    valuable    object   lessons    procurable    to    the 
youthful  aspirant  to  fame  in  the  show-ring. 

Judgment. 

It  is  among  the  thoughtful,  patient  and  observant  shep- 
herds that  we  find  our  best  judges  of  sheep.  It  requires  con- 
stant handling  of  a  breed  to  become  thoroughly  acquainted 
with  the  true  exhibition  points,  qualities  and  merits  of  a 
breed.  In  these  days  of  rapid  progress,  fashion  asserts  her 
sway,  even  on  subjects  pertaining  to  shepherding.  The  type 
of  some  of  our  leading  mutton  breeds  of  sheep  has  undergone 
a  decidedly  marked  change  and  great  improvement  during 
the  past  ten  years;  therefore,  it  can  be  easily  understood  why 
to  become  a  really  expert  judge  of  a  breed  it  requires 
thought,  observation,  and  the  constant  handling  and  study- 
ing of  a  breed  to  thoroughly  understand  the  true  type  that 
fashion  dictates  as  being  the  correct  one  of  to-day.  Whilst 
in  fat  stock  contests  the  mutton  conformation  of  the  animal 
is  the  leading  consideration,  in  breed  contests  the  embellish- 
ments that  must  accompany  true  mutton  form  in  the  make- 
up of  a  typical  show  animal  must  be  given  due  consideration. 
It  is  well  for  the  novice  to  hold  this  fact  in  view,  and  if  he  is 
not  satisfied  in  himself  that  he  is  capable  of  making  judicious 
selections  of  show  stock,  he  should  seek  aid  from  the  many 
reliable  sources  this  country  admits  of. 

Quite  often  judges  are  called  upon  and  accept  the  respon- 
sibility of  passing  judgment  upon  exhibits  of  the  various 
breeds  of  sheep,  the  character  and  general  conformation 
of  which  they  cannot  be  said  to  be  conversant  with.  Although 
they  may  conscientiously  do  the  best  their  judgment  dictates, 


10  FITTING  SHEEP 

they  sometimes  err  so  much  that  they  do  great  harm  and 
injustice  to  the  breeders  and  their  exhibits,  while  at  the  same 
time  they  detract  from  their  own  credit  as  judges  of  the  breed 
of  sheep  the  merits  and  points  of  which  they  may  be  actually 
conversant  with.  While  we  may  know  what  the  most  de- 
sirable conformation  of  the  body  of  a  typical  mutton  sheep 
may  be,  the  type  and  characteristics  of  the  various  mutton 
breeds  vary  so  much  that  to  get  a  correct  idea  of  them  we 
must  have  considerable  experience  in  handling  them  before 
we  should  be  admitted  as  critical  judges  of  any  of  the  breeds 
we  are  to  pass  judgment  upon.  For  those  having  experience 
in  handling  sheep  other  than  the  Merino  to  pass  judgment 
upon  a  modern  Shropshire  could  not  be  accepted  as  anything 
but  an  injustice  to  the  breeder  and  exhibitor,  and  vice  versa, 
for  what  can  a  shepherd  who  has  handled  nothing  but  mutton 
breeds  be  expected  to  know  about  the  technical  points  and 
type  of  a  well-bred  Merino?  It  cannot  be  expected  that  he 
should  know  any  more  than  a  Shire  horse  breeder  who  has 
never  handled  a  race  horse  should  be  acquainted  with  the 
points  of  the  latter.  Another  mistake  often  made  by  judges 
is  that  of  allowing  over-fed,  broken-down  sheep  to  take 
premier  places  over  sheep  that  are  in  the  fullest  of  health  and 
bloom.  While  they  will  carefully  examine  the  fleece  to  find 
a  trace  of  dark  wool,  and  the  skin  for  undesirable  discolora- 
tions,  they  will  totally  ignore  the  importance  of  trotting  the 
animals  around  the  ring  to  see  if  they  are  firm  on  their  pas- 
terns or  have  been  overheated  in  feeding  and  thereby  ren- 
dered useless  for  procreating  their  species.  When  an  animal 
is  shown  let  him  be  shown  for  what  he  is  actually  worth 
to-day,  not  for  what  he  has  been,  or  what  he  may  some  day  be. 
Entirely  too  many  sheep  are  shown  which  are  said  to  have 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  11 

been  injured  on  the  cars,  when  in  reality  they  are  nothing 
more  or  less  than  lame,  over-fed,  broken-down,  useless  tubs 
of  blubber  dressed  in  sheep's  clothing. 

Points. 

I  have  always  considered  that  the  principal  points  of  a  ram 
to  be  a  thick,  heavy  scrag,  a  broad,  distended  nostril,  and 
a  thick  shapely  twist.  In  company  with  these,  we  almost 
invariably  find  a  strong,  robust  constitution;  broad,  fleshy 
loin;  full,  broad  chest  and  brisket,  breadth  between  ihe  ears 
and  eyes;  good,  broad,  level,  smooth  crops,  and  a  good, 
strong  level  back.  When  working  as  a  slaughterman  in  the 
old  country,  I  almost  invariably  noticed  that  animals  carry- 
ing the  thick  scrag  and  full  twist  were  the  best  "cutters"  all 
the  way  through.  A  ram  with  a  thin  scrag,  or  twist,  should 
be  quickly  discarded  for  show  or  any  other  purpose. 

A  well  sprung  rib  is  usually  found  in  company  with  a  full, 
shapely  twist;  on  the  other  hand,  however,  it  does  not  follow 
that  an  animal  carrying  the  most  correctly  sprung  rib  in- 
variably carries  a  good  twist.  It  appears  that  nature  does 
more  for  the  welfare  and  proper  development  of  the  fore- 
quarters  of  the  male  animal  than  it  does  for  his  hind-quarters. 
This  is  plainly  evident  in  the  conformation  of  the  male  sex 
of  almost  all  wild  animals  of  a  herbivorous  nature.  The  heavy 
shoulders  appear  unbecoming  and  unsuitable  companions  for 
the  lank  hind-quarters  of  many  of  these  animals;  this  same 
thing  being  evident  also  among  our  domestic  animals  where 
breeding  has  not  been  carefully  studied. 

There  is  always  a  tendency  among  our  domestic  animals 
to  reversion,  and  with  neglect  they  will  soon  be  on  the  road 


12  FITTING  SHEEP 


of  retrogression.  It  is  very  easy  for  the  novice  to  make  a 
serious  mistake  in  judging  the  points  of  an  animal  by  con- 
founding a  poor  twist  with  a  good  one;  he  too  often  thinks 
that  because  a  sheep  is  "well-meated"  down  the  thighs  and 
not  "split  up"  behind  that  he  is  perfect  in  twist.  Upon  crit- 
ipal  examination,  however,  this  does  not  always  prove  to  be 
true.  Upon  taking  a  rear  view  of  an  animal  we  often  find 
that  although  "well  meated"  down  the  leg,  even  to  the 
gambrel  joint,  it  shows  a  somewhat  contracted  or  squeezed 
appearance,  the  leg  of  mutton  showing  a  tendency  to  flatness 
instead  of  roundness.  Then,  again,  the  legs  are  not  set  wide 
enough  apart,  and  that  graceful  curve  and  full  muscle  that 
goes  to  form  the  well-developed  twist  is  not  in  evidence, 
neither  does  the  animal  stand  with  that  degree  of  assurance 
and  strength,  or  is  he  so  active  on  His  feet  as  the  animal  that 
carries  the  well  formed  twist.  There  is  as  much  difference  in 
the  shape  of  a  good  twist  and  a  poor  one  as  there  is  in  a  well- 
shaped  pear  before  and  after  being  flattened  out  by  pressure. 

The  sheep  with  a  well-formed  twist  carries  mutton  on 
both  the  inside  and  outside  of  the  leg;  the  rotundity  of  the 
leg  plainly  showing  it.  Sheep  strong  in  the  twist  are  not 
usually  easily  broken  down  while  being  fitted  for  the  show 
ring,  where  the  proper  and  necessary  exercise  is  allowed 
them.  Good  twists  are  more  often  met  with  in  short-legged 
animals  than  in  others. 

Another  thing  which  does  not  usually  receive  the  neces- 
sary attention  and  judgment  at  the  hands  of  the  novice,  and 
indeed  many  of  our  experienced  judges,  is  the  proper  devel- 
opment of  the  crops  of  a  sheep.  Too  many  animals  that  have 
no  crops  at  all,  as  it  were,  too  often  receive  honors  that  should 
be  given  to  more  deserving  animals.  No  animal  with  imper- 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET. 


fectly  sprung  ribs  can  be  said  to  be  good  on  the  crops. 
Where  the  ribs  are  well  sprung  the  shoulders  are  well  set 
apart,  but  where  the  animal  is  slab-sided  the  shoulder-blades. 
usually  run  together  at  a  point,  which  at  once  condemns  the 
animal  as  one  decidedly  poor  in  the  crops,  and  an  animal 
poor  in  this  point  cannot  be  accepted  as  of  a  desirable  mut- 
ton form. 

All  rams  of  both  the  Downs  and  the  Longwools  should 
be  polled  or  free  from  horns.  No  matter  how  good  they  may 
otherwise  be,  no  ram  should  be  awarded  a  premium  that  shows 
the  slightest  trace  of  horns  or  stubs.  Even  now,  after  many 
years  of  careful  breeding  our  Downs  are  liable  to  produce 
horns  once  in  a  while,  but  of  course  cases  of  this  kind  be- 
come more  rare  each  year. 

The  Fleece. 

The  fleece  of  show  stock  should  be  minutely  examined^ 
and  any  showing  the  slightest  tendency  to  dark  or  black 
spots  should  not  be  countenanced,  either  as  show  or  breeding 
stock.  There  is  a  tendency  in  some  breeds  to  "throw  dark 
spots"  in  fleece  more  so  than  in  others.  I  refrain  from  in- 
dividualizing or  mentioning  breeds,  for  reasons  that  must 
be  obvious.  Sometimes  these  black  spots,  if  any  exist,  are 
to  be  found  in  the  wool  on  the  thighs  or  more  properly,  per- 
haps, hind  legs  of  the  animal. 

Sometimes  the  purest  blooded  sheep  are  found  carrying 
imperfections  of  the  fleece,  such  as  dark  or  gray  tufts  of  wool, 
on  their  sides  or  other  parts  of  their  bodies;  in  many  cases- 
they  are  50  small  as  to  be  easily  overlooked  by  the  judge, 
while  in  others  they  will  be  as  large  as  a  silver  dollar.  This,. 


14  FITTING  SHEEP 


of  course,  being  plainly  visible,  at  once  condemns  them  as 
show  animals.  Some  unscrupu^us  exhibitors  have  been 
known  to  do  some  pretty  sleek  "jockeying"  to  hide  these 
defects.  There  are  instances  in  which  ten  cents  worth  of 
dye  has  been  known  -to  be  the  means  of  a  sheep — that  was 
utterly  disqualified  for  show  purposes  on  account  of  defects 
of  the  fleece — winning  a  premium  to  which  another  animal 
was  justly  entitled.  Sheep  having  traces  of  black  or  discol- 
ored wool  are  very  apt  to  transmit  them  to  the  offspring, 
hence  the  importance  of  at  once  turning  down  a  specimen 
carrying  these  defects.  Down  sheep  with  long  coarse  fleeces 
should  not  be  selected  as  candidates  for  the  show  ring,  no 
matter  what  other  good  qualities  they  may  have  to  recom- 
mend them,  neither  should  sheep  with  the  least  trace  of 
"kemp"  in  its  fleece,  as  it  cannot  possibly  win  under  a  judge 
that  is  worthy  of  the  name.  Kemp  is  usually  found  on  sheep 
carrying  a  light,  open  fleece.  It  is  most  prominent  on  the 
breech  of  the  animal,  more  so  than  on  any  other  part  of  its 
body,  although  it  is  usually  found  disseminated  entirely  over 
it.  Some  authorities  claim  this  to  be  a  disease.  The  writer 
has  always  considered  it  more  of  a  freak  of  nature,  as  some- 
times lambs  from  the  best  bred  flocks,  both  males  and  fe- 
males, will  be  found  to  be  "kempy."  In  no  case  is  it  advisable 
to  use  an  animal  that  has  the  least  trace  of  "kemp"  in  its 
fleece  for  breeding  purposes.  A  show  sheep  of  the  Down 
breeds  should  be  covered  from  the  "nose  to  the  toes"  with  as 
compact,  dense,  and  fine  a  fleece  as  is  possible  to  procure  in 
an  animal  that  has  all  the  other  qualities  that  go  in  the 
make-up  of  a  really  good  show  animal.  When  examining  the 
fleece  in  selecting  candidates  for  exhibition  purposes  great 
attention  should  be  given  to  the  condition  of  the  "breech" 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  15 

of  the  animal,  as  this  is  where  defects  in  the  fleece  will  be 
most  conspicuous,  if  existing  at  all.  The  finest  and  most 
valuable  portion  of  the  fleece  is  found  at  a  point  near  the 
center  of  the  shoulder-blade,  and  extending  in  a  line  along 
the  animal's  side  to  a  point  just  above  the  flank.  The  student 
would  do  well  to  carefully  examine  and  study  the  difference 
in  the  nature  and  quality  of  the  various  parts  or  sections  of 
the  fleece  of  the  stock  he  intends  to  exhibit  before  wasting- 
care  and  feed  on  animals  that  on  account  of  the  inferiority 
in  these  respects  cannot  possibly  win  a  premium.  A  close, 
dense  fleece  is  generally  short  in  staple.  This  is  preferable,, 
however,  to  the  long,  coarse,  open  fleece;  that  is,  where  the 
Down  breeds  of  sheep  are  considered.  The  fleece  is  the  cri- 
terion of  the  health  of  a  sheep,  and  where  the  show  animal's 
fleece  is  dry  and  harsh  something  surely  is  wrong,  as  a  well- 
fed  sheep  when  in  health  carries  a  fleece  full  of  life  and 
lustre.  The  fleece  of  the  Dorset  is  wonderfully  free  from 
defects,  as  far  as  discoloration  of  same  is  considered.  The 
writer  has  never  as  yet  seen  a  Dorset  clothed  in  a  black 
or  discolored  fleece.  This  is  no  doubt  accounted  for  from, 
the  fact  of  their  having  been  bred  in  purity  for  so  long  a  time. 
It  is  important  that  the  fleece  of  the  Longwools  be  of  great 
length  of  staple,  strong  in  fibre,  and  finely  crimped  almost  to 
curliness. 

The  Skin. 

The  skin  of  show,  and,  for  that  matter,  of  all  sheep,  should 
be  of  a  beautiful,  rich,  brilliant  pink,  free  from  foreign  color 
or  shade.  It  is  claimed  (and  no  doubt  with  good  reason) 
by  the  greatest  living  authorities,  that  a  pale  skin  points  to 


16  FITTING  SHEEP 


3.  delicate  constitution.  This  is  amply  proven  by  the  fact 
that  the  most  beautiful  pink  skin  of  the  most  robust,  healthy 
animal  will  fade  and  assume  a  dull,  sickly,  pale  hue  when 
-attacked  with  disease;  therefore,  we  may  assume  that  a  pink 
skin  is  a  safe  criterion  of  health. 

What  is  a  pink  skin?  This  question  is  more  easily  asked 
than  answered.  When  we  speak  of  a  pink  skin  as  pertaining 
to  sheep  we  understand  it  to  be  a  pure  soft  pink,  pure  as  the 
pinkest  shade  of  color  to  be  found  in  the  whole  list  of  out' 
Flora.  Some  sheep,  even  those  that  have  undergone  the 
ordeal  of  fitting,  are  the  possessors  of  skins  that  are  so  dark 
in  color  that  they  cannot  with  any  degree  of  truth  be  classed 
as  pink,  while  on  the  other  hand  some  are  possessors  of  skins 
either  so  pale  or  so  spotted  that  neither  can  successfully  lay 
claim  as  owners  of  pink  skins.  Feeding  and  general  treat- 
ment will  considerably  affect  the  hue  or  shade  of  the  skin. 

The  color  of  the  skin  is  sometimes  heightened  by  high 
feeding,  while  poor  treatment  will  give  it  a  decidedly  pale 
and  "off"  appearance. 

The  intending  exhibitor  should  well  consider  the  character 
of  the  animal's  skin  if  his  ambition  and  hopes  are  to  be  real- 
ized in  the  show-ring.  In  some  breeds  of  sheep  imperfect 
skins  are  more  common  than  in  others.  The  writer  has  al- 
ways found  that  Dorsets  when  in  good  health  carry  a  pink 
skin  to  a  greater  degree  of  perfection  than  any  other  breed 
lie  has  yet  handled. 

Feeding. 

The  successful  feeding  of  show  animals  is  an  art  in  which 
very  few,  comparatively,  can  be  said  to  excel.  It  is  not  a 
difficult  matter  to  fatten  sheep,  usually,  but  to  place  an 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  IT 

exhibit  in  the  show-yard  in  that  ripe,  happy,  and  balanced 
condition  known  as  bloom,  is  a  matter  that  no  haphazard 
feeder  can  ever  hope  to  successfully  cope  with,  especially 
where  stale  stock  is  under  consideration.  (By  stale  stock, 
I  mean  aged  stock  that  has  been  repeatedly  fitted.)  Whilst 
it  is  advisable,  generally,  to  have  new,  fresh,  young  animals 
to  exhibit  each  season,  sometimes  it  is  found  profitable  to- 
ht  an  animal  of  outstanding  character  and  jnerit  more  than 
one  season. 

The  art  and  aim  of  the  cook  is  to  cook  articles  of  food  to  a 
nicety;  not  over  or  underdone,  but  "just  so."  The  art  and 
aim  of  the  shepherd  should  be  to  fit  to  a  nicety.  There  is 
a  moment  in  the  life  of  a  flower  when  it  is  in  the  height  of 
bloom,  when  its  beauty  is  at  its  best,  and  in  its  most  perfect 
state;  another  moment  and  it  is  descending  the  road  to  decay, 
its  bloom  is  gone,  and  therefore  its  charms.  Just  so  with 
our  show  sheep.  There  is  an  indescribable  charm  in  the 
appearance  of  the  fleece,  consistency  of  flesh,  and  color  of 
skin,  aye,  even  the  countenance  of  an  animal  in  perfect  bloom, 
that  never  can  be  found  in  either  the  under-fed  or  over-fed 
one. 

Feeding  to  be  Governed  by  Temperament. 

An  old  adage  says:  "What  is  one  man's  food  is  another 
man's  poison."  What  will  make  bloom  on  one  animal  will 
sometimes  make  blubber  on  another;  therefore  the  tempera- 
ment of  the  animal  under  course  of  fitting  must  be  consulted 
to  bring  about  good  results.  If  the  feeder  is  a  careful  ob- 
server and  attentive  to  his  business,  he  will  soon  learn  what 
the  various  members  of  his  flock  are  capable  of,  as  regards. 


18  FITTING  SHEEP 


feeding.  Ewes,  as  a  rule,  fatten  more  readily  than  either  rams 
or  wethers.  Aged  ewes  are  apt  to  take  on  soft,  blubbery, 
superfluous  fat,  unless  very  carefully  fed  and  abundantly  ex- 
ercised. 

The  Feeding  of  Lambs. 

The  first  few  days  after  parturition  is  a  very  critical  time 
among  high-bred,  blooded  stock,  and  great  care  should  be 
exercised  in  the  feeding  of  the  dam,  as  most  assuredly  any 
irregularity  of  her  system  will  be  transmitted  to  the  off- 
spring. Again,  I  would  warn  the  novice  of  the  ill  effects  of 
the  over-feeding  of  grain.  Over-rich  milk,  sometimes  the 
result  of  grain  feeding,  means  poison  to  the  newly  yeaned 
Jamb.  Plenty  of  ordinary  fodder  is  the  best  food  for  a  ewe 
that  has  recently  yeaned.  Grain  can  be  fed  with  good  results 
as  soon  as  the  ewe  and  lamb  are  "up  and  getting  thar." 
Scours  and  constipation  are  the  most  common  source  of 
trouble  to  the  new-born  lamb.  If  the  lamb  appears  dull, 
and  sleepy,  constipation  is  usually  found  to  be  the  cause. 
Give  an  injection  of  warm  soapy  water,  and  change  diet  of 
ewe;  this  will  quickly  rectify  this  trouble. 

Bran,  oats  and  oil-cake,  mixed  to  suit  the  temperament, 
and  constitution  of  the  animal,  cannot  be  surpassed  as  a 
.grain  ration  for  milking  ewes.  One  pound  a  day  will  be 
found  ample  where  clover  hay  and  roots  are  in  abundance. 
As  soon  as  the  lambs  commence  to  eat  they  get  bran  anc 
oats,  mixed,  and  clover  hay  ad  libitum,  fed  in  troughs,  anc 
racks  set  in  a  pen  partitioned  off  from  where  the  ewes  can 
get  access  to  it  and  the  lambs  can  get  it,  by  going  through 
"creeps."  After  a  while — say  three  weeks — oilmeal  should 
be  added  to  their  grain  ration. 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  19 

Usual  Way  of  Feeding  Lambs. 

As  soon  as  the  lambs  are  weaned,  my  methods  of  feeding 
are  as  follows: 

At  6  A.  M.  a  light  grain  ration,  composed  of  bran,  oats 
and  oil  meal,  with  a  little  specially-prepared  "lamb  food" 
added;  after  which  follows  a  ration  of  rape,  oats,  peas,  or  a 
combination  of  these  valuable  fodders,  fed,  of  course,  in  a- 
green  state  at  noon;  a  mere  taste  of  grain,  clover  cut  early 
in  the  morning,  and  having  been  allowed  to  become  wilted* 
thereby  minimizing  danger  of  bloat.  At  6  P.  M.  moderate 
grain  ration,  and  about  a  two  hours'  run  in  the  rape  lot,, 
in  the  cool  of  the  evening,  when  weather  permits.  Good 
bright  clover  hay  must  be  fed  after  each  meal,  care  being 
observed  to  change  it  often.  In  fact,  as  soon  as  each  animal 
has  got  through  eating  the  allowed  ration,  all  troughs  and 
hay  racks  should  be  emptied  of  their  contents.  The  appetite 
must  be  cultivated  very  carefully;  stale  rations  are  detrimental 
to  the  well  being  of  our  stock. 

Punctuality  in  Feeding. 

The  feeding  of  stock  intended  for  exhibition  purposes  must 
be  attended  to  with  the  utmost  punctuality  and  regularity  by 
the  watch,  and  "at  the  drop  of  the  hat,"  as  it  were.  Condi- 
tion powders  should  be  fed  occasionally.  Unnecessary  to 
mention,  perhaps,  salt  must  be  always  provided. 

Importance  of  Forcing. 

It  may  be  superfluous  to  mention  that  all  young  animals 
intended  for  show  purposes  should  never  have  known  what 
real  hunger  is;  but,  on  the  contrary,  have  been  pushed 


•20  FITTING  SHEEP 


along  as  rapidly  as  is  consistent  with  safety  since  their  birth. 
A  shiftless,  unattentive,  unfaithful  shepherd  can  never  hope 
to  attain  any  fame  in  exhibition  circles.  Regularity  and 
punctuality  in  feeding  must  be  his  watchword,  or  he  fails 
to  accomplish  anything. 

Whilst  grain  is  an  indispensable  adjunct  to  the  successful 
feeding  and  fitting  of  show  stock,  I  am  herein  tempted  to 
say  without  the  least  fear  of  possible  successful  contradiction, 
that  there  are  more  show  animals  'ruined  and  more  shepherds 
have  failed  as  fitters  of  show  stock  by  the  over-feeding  of 
grain  than  from  any  one  other  known  cause.  What  does 
it  mean?  It  means  blubber,  it  means  founder,  it  means 
rickets,  it  means  overheating  and  grogginess,  it  means  ruin 
.to  the  flockmaster,  and  disgrace  to  the  shepherd.  So  I  say 
to  the  young  aspirant  to  show  honors,  Beware!  Rations  of 
a  juicy,  succulent  nature  are  what  bring  about  that  beautiful 
".happy  condition,  known  as  "bloom"  to  the  show-follower. 
Rape,  cabbage,  kale,  rutabagas,  beets  and  mangels — the  lat- 
ter-named not  for  rams,  however — are  both  food  and  medi- 
cine to  the  growing  animal.  Grain  is  a  most  valuable  adjunct 
in  the  composition  of  the  show  animal's  ration  when  fed 
in  a  rational  and  moderate  manner,  but  a  direct  injury  and 
poison  when  once  the  bounds  of  moderation  are  strained. 
How  much  grain  should  be  fed  to  an  animal  depends  much 
•on  its  constitution,  age,  etc.  This  must  be  governed  by  the 
leeder. 

What  is  Bloom. 

A  question  more  easily  asked  than  answered.  Out  of*  a 
hundred  shepherds  of  which  this  question  may  be  asked  per- 
liaps  not  five  per  cent  could  give  an  intelligible  answer.  I 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET,  21 

•cannot  describe  what  bloom  is;  I  have  tried,  time  and  again, 
but  in  each  attempt  have  I  signally  failed.  The  best  answer 
that  I  can  give  to  the  question  is,  that  "Bloom  is  the  extreme 
height  of  condition  to  which  an  animal  can  be  fed  without 
injury  to  its  constitution — that  state  or  condition  that  can 
promise  of  no  higher  perfection.  As  with  a  flower,  there  is 
a  day  when  a  sheep  may  be  said  to  be  unripe,  while  the  fol- 
lowing day  it  may  be  in  full  bloom,  again  another  day,  and 
like  the  flower  it  may  be  over  ripe  and  on  the  downward 
road  to  decay  unless  the  shepherd  be  skilful  enough  to  hold 
him  there.  It  is  so  with  ourselves.  There  is  a  day  when  we 
are  at  our  best. 

Then  why  is  it  that  the  novice  sometimes  thinks  himself 
slighted  and  his  sheep  unfairly  dealt  with  when,  in  his  esti- 
mation, his  sheep  are  well  fitted  and  "fat"  enough  to  win 
anywhere?  Simply  because  his  sheep  are  over-fitted  and  lack 
bloom,  he  does  not  know  where  to  draw  the  line  between 
bloom  and  blubber,  but  the  judge  does.  The  youthful  exhib- 
itor should  endeavor  to  impress  upon  his  own  mind  the  fact 
that  a  sheep  that  is  gaining  in  flesh  is  to  a  certain  extent  in 
bloom,  but  not  in  the  sense  that  applies  to  show  stock.  A 
sheep  going  up  hill  is  not  in  bloom,  neither  is  a  sheep  that 
is  on  the  downward  course,  but  the  one  that  is  on  the  crest 
of  the  hill,  as  it  were,  is. 

It  is  a  comparatively  easy  matter  to  get  our  sheep  in 
bloom,  but'a  very  difficult  one  to  keep  them  in  that  desirable 
•condition.  When  we  once  have  them  in  bloom  we  must 
keep  watch  that  they  do  not  get  over-fat,  soft,  and  blubbery. 
An  animal  that  is  "on  the  shrink"  will  handle  soft,  as  likewise 
will  an  overdone  specimen. 

It  is  not  advisable  for  an  inexperienced  feeder  to  attempt 


22         FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET. 

holding  over  his  fall  fair  exhibits  with  the  idea  of  showing" 
them  at  the  winter  fat  stock  shows,  it  being  far  preferable  to 
fit  animals  not  so  forward,  as  they  almost  invariably  come 
under  the  hand  in  a  much  finer  and  firmer  condition. 

Ewes  Damaged  by  Their  Own  Urine. 

In  the  fitting  of  his  sheep  for  show  the  shepherd  some- 
times finds,  when  the  ewes  become  fat,  no  little  trouble  from 
their  hind  quarters  becoming  scalded  by  their  own  urine 
running  down  over  them,  and  unless  attention  is  given  to 
it  right  off,  the  parts  become  very  sore  and  foul,  and  the  wool 
liable  to  come  off  in  a  solid  mass.  As  soon  as  this  trouble  is 
noticed  the  shepherd  should  thoroughly  wash  the  parts 
affected,  and  after  wiping  dry,  thoroughly  rub  vaseline  into 
the  fleece  and  skin  where  saturated  with  urine.  This  should 
be  done  every  three  or  four  days  to  ensure  any  beneficial 
results. 

Milk-Fed  Lambs. 

It  is  an  open  question  whether  the  feeding  of  milk  to  show 
lambs  is  a  benefit  or  not.  That  this  method  forces  them 
both  as  regard  to  size  and  flesh,  there  is  no  question;  but, 
whether  it  can  be  said  to  be  a  lasting  benefit,  is  questionable, 
and  I  believe  that  purchasers  of  this  kind  of  stock  are  usually 
disappointed  in  their  purchase  ere  a  year  has  elapsed  after  the 
animal  coming  into  their  possession.  In  teaching  a  lamb  to 
suck  milk  from  a  bottle  or  can,  it  is  well  to  commence  in 
the  early  part  of  its  life,  the  milk  must  be  tried  or  tested 
carefully  to  see  what  effect  it  has  on  the  lamb.  If  the  milk 
is  too  rich,  it  will  cause  either  scours,  or  constipation,  and 


J 


co 


8.3 


\.\  B  R  A 


UNfV! 


TY 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.         25 

should  be  reduced  in  strength  by  adding  water;  and  as  the 
lamb  gets  older  the  milk  may  be  fed  stronger.  I,  however, 
cannot  recommend  the  plan,  and  have  followed  it  but  little. 
If  the  lambs  come  early  and  both  they  and  their  dams  are 
abundantly  and  regularly  furnished  with  succulent  rations, 
and  a  reasonable  amount  of  good,  sound  trough-feed,  until 
weaning  time,  and  after  that  the  lambs  are  fed  a  little  heavier 
of  some  first-class  lamb  food,  the  difference  of  size  or  con- 
dition between  these  and  the  milk-fed  ones  is  hardly,  or,  at 
all,  discernable.  I  have  raised  some  extra  good  lambs  that 
had  been  taught  to  suck  a  cow;  but  when  weaned  from  their 
foster  mother,  disaster  has  ofttimes  followed,  and  I  cannot 
but  condemn  the  practice.  . 

Early  Lambs  Best  for  Show. 

The  early  lamb  is  without  doubt  the  lamb  par  excellence 
for  show  purposes.  As  before  intimated,  the  combination 
of  size  and  quality  must  naturally  win  over  quality  minus  the 
desirable  size.  The  would-be-exhibitor,  therefore,  being 
aware  of  this  fact,  would  do  well  to  select  some  of  his  best 
ewes  and  breed  them  as  early  as  practical  to  the  best  rams 
his  means  will  admit  of,  so  that  the  lambs  will  be  of  good 
size  by  the  time  the  show  season  opens.  Although  the  best 
ewes  cannot  be  said  to  raise  the  best  lambs,  at  all  times,  of 
course  it  is  sound  policy  to  breed  from  the  best  at  command. 

Getting  Ewes  in  Season. 

Where  difficulty  exists  in  getting  our  ewes  in  desirable  con- 
dition for  the  acceptance  of  the  rams'  amorous  attentions,  a 
change  from  the  ordinary  ration  or  pasture  field  to  a  field  of 


26  FITTING  SHEEP 


rape  will  usually  bring  about  the  desired  result,  especially 
if  a  little  grain  be  added.  This  will  stimulate  them.  The 
shepherd,  however,  must  be  on  the  alert,  and  be  at  once 
ready  to  check  the  slightest  symptoms  of  either  diarrhoea 
or  bloat,  that  the  change  of  diet  may  possibly  bring  about. 
When  the  ewes  are  without  doubt  safe  in  lamb,  they  must 
receive  especial  care  and  attention,  and  should  be  kept  by 
themselves,  away  from  the  main  flock.  They  must  be  fed 
with  judgment,  care  being  taken  that  they  be  kept  "fresh" 
but  not  fat. 

No  one  should  think  of  raising  early  lambs  unless  fully 
satisfied  they  are  well  prepared  to  cater  to  the  comfort 
and  welfare  of  the  little  weaklings.  A  warm  barn  is  indis- 
pensable in  the  raising  of  early  lambs,  in  most  of  the  states, 
and  a  tender-hearted  shepherd  in  all  states.  Lambs,  espe- 
cially early  lambs,  take  delight  in  eating  or  nibbling  the 
earth  from  off  the  roots  of  the  turnips,  etc.,  in  winter.  A 
call  from  nature  no  doubt  prompts  them  to  do  this  as  a 
regulator  of  the  digestive  apparatus.  It  is,  I  think,  well  to 
bear  this,  in  mind,  and  where  roots  are  not  provided  as  a 
winter  ration,  earth  should  be  dried  and  stored  on  purpose 
for  the  lambs.  I  have  done  this,  and  have  never  found  any 
bad  results  from  the  lambs  eating  quite  large  quantities  of  it. 

A  Good  Cross  for  Exhibition  Purposes. 

Where  the  exhibitor  intends  making  an  exhibit  at  a  fat 
stock  show,  either  in  the  live  or  dressed  classes,  he  should 
not  forget  that  size  and  weight  cuts  quite  a  figure  where,  of 
course,  quality  is  also  in  evidence,  more  so  than  when  offering 
fat  sheep  for  sale  on  the  market,  as  then  small  handy  weights. 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  27 

are  preferable  to  heavy  overgrown  animals;  but  where  we 
consider  the  show  side  of  the  question,  we  must  not  forget 
that  we  are  endeavoring  to  show  what  our  animals  can  do 
in  making  weights  and  are  capable  of  under  pressure  of  high 
feeding. 

If  the  intending  exhibitor  is  thinking  of  raising  cross-bred 
sheep  for  exhibition  purposes  he  will  find  the  Oxford  and 
Hampshire  cross  a  most  desirable  one.  Hampshires  are  re- 
markable for  their  rapid  growth  during  the  earlier  stages  of 
their  existence,  while  the  Oxfords  are  not  far  behind  them  in 
this  respect.  The  offspring  from  this  cross  has  no  superior 
.as  regards  early  maturity,  desirable  mutton  form,  and  wealth 
of  flesh.  This  cross  has  taken  the  leading  honors  at  the 
great  English  Smithfield  Show  for  a  number  of  years.  The 
weight  and  quality  of  flesh  of  the  lambs  shown  by  this  cross 
being  in  every  case  most  remarkable. 

Housing. 

Close  housing  is  detrimental  to  the  welfare  of  sheep.  Of 
course  they — especially  show  sheep — must  be  provided  with 
shelter,  but  close  confinement  should,  as  much  as  possible, 
be  avoided.  Sheep  that  are  subject  to  confinement  in  the 
barns  are  usually  found  to  be  soft  and  blubbery;  especially 
is  this  the  case  with  aged  sheep.  Sheep  that  are  intended 
for  exhibition  should  be  allowed  the  run  of  a  paddock  ad- 
joining the  sheep  barn  fine  days  and  be  confined  only  at 
night,  or  during  a  storm,  until  within  about  from  six  to 
eight  weeks  previous  to  the  opening  of  the  show  season;  and 
even  then,  should  have  the  run  of  a  paddock,  or  yard  for 
an  hour  or  so  in  the  cool  of  the  evening,  when  the  weather 


28  FITTING  SHEEP 


permits  of  same.    To  keep  high-bred  sheep  confined  in  close 
quarters  for  any  length  of  time,  is  to  court  disaster. 

Exercise. 

Exercise  is  one  of  the  most  potent  factors  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  exhibition  sheep.  It  means  health,  firm  flesh — bloom. 
In  the  final  course  of  preparation,  all  show  stock  should  be 
allowed  ample  exercise  in  the  yard,  or  paddock,  not  less 
than  once  a  day;  twice  being  better.  Rams  should  be  taught 
to  lead  whilst  young.  A  halter  can  be  cheaply  made  out  of 
medium  sized  rope,  and  answers  the  purpose  equally  as  well 
as  costly  leather  ones.  Needless  to  say,  perhaps,  exercise 
should  be  gentle  and  regular. 

Care  of  Feet. 

This  is  an  highly  important  matter.  Each  foot  should  from 
time  to  time  be  carefully  examined  and  if  trimming  is  neces- 
sary should  be  carefully  attended  to  without  a  moment's 
delay;  ofttimes  grave  results  follow  neglect  of  trivial  matters 
of  this  kind.  Foot-rot  is  ofttimes  directly  traceable  to  the 
neglect  of  careful  trimming  of  the  hoof.  In  trimming,  pare 
with  a  view  of  giving  the  foot  a  firm,  level  bearing.  In  case 
of  foot  "fouling"  (getting  sore  between  the  dibits  of  the  foot) 
finely  powdered  blue-stone  (blue  vitriol)  should  be  applied; 
this  will  arrest  progress  of  trouble,  if  attended  to  without 
delay.  If  "foul-foot"  is  neglected,  foot-rot  ensues;  the  sheep 
rapidly  loses  flesh,  and  the  chances  are  slim  of  the  animal's 
appearing  in  the  ring  with  any  bloom,  or  even  at  all  during 
the  season. 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  29' 

Shearing. 

The  rules  governing  the  shearing  of  show  sheep  stipulate- 
that  no  sheep  must  be  shorn  earlier  than  April  i.  That, 
very  many  of  the  sheep  shown  have  a  most  phenomenal 
tendency  to  wool  growing,  or  their  owners  have  a  tendency 
of  creeping  around  the  rules,  must  be  evident  to  any  one 
who  has  had  the  merest  experience  in  the  handling  of  sheep — 
especially  show  stock.  That  individual  sheep,  even  of  one 
and  the  same  breed,  do  carry  wool  varying  in  large  decree  in 
length  of  staple,  cannot  be  denied,  but  not  to  the  extent 
usually  noticeable  in  animals  presented  for  competition  in  the 
show  ring.  Perhaps  one  cannot  be  blamed  for  leaving  the: 
newly  shorn  -sheep  in  a  pretty  snug  little  coat  of  wool,  con- 
sidering that  the  weather  during  the  month  of  April  is 
ofttimes  cold  and  bleak.  Blankets  should  be  provided  in 
case  the  weather  should  prove  cold;  they  should  be  made  of 
some  warm  material. 

Blocking  Out. 

Many  experts  take  the  opportunity  of  blocking  out,  or 
giving  shape  to  their  show  animals  at  shearing  time.  Whether 
much  benefit  accrues  from  this  method  is  a  matter  of  opin- 
ion and  taste;  the  writer  fails  to  see  the  real  benefit.  If  a 
judge  is  what  the  word  indicates  and  a  showman  of  the  high- 
est order  himself,  which  he  should  be,  he  is  not  usually 
"fooled"  by  tricks  of  the  trade.  To  the  author's  mind  a 
short,  close,  compact  fleece  is  preferable  to  a  long  one;  the 
body  coming  under  the  hand  in  a  firmer  and  more  pleasing 
condition. 


30  FITTING  SHEEP 


Stubble  Shearing. 

Shepherds  are  an  ambitious  class,  especially  in  matters 
pertaining  to  exhibiting.  We  sometimes  find  one  whose  am- 
bition overcomes  his  discretion,  and  the  employment  of  ques- 
tionable methods  to  win  a  coveted  prize  is  the  result.  That 
some  shepherds  actually  do  receive  premiums  galore  dis- 
honestly by  creeping  around  the  rules  set  down  by  the  vari- 
ous agricultural  societies  governing  the  condition  in  which 
sheep  shall  be  shorn  there  is  no  doubt;  but  of  course  they 
do  not  belong  to  our  class.  While  these  rules  are  supposed 
to  be  of  a  very  rigid  and  ironclad  nature,  in  reality  they  are 
not.  To-day  the  showyard  atmosphere  is  fairly  reeking 
with  violations  of  these  rules.  There  are  many  tricks  em- 
ployed by  the  professional  shepherd,  which  no  doubt  add 
much  to  the  beauty  and  general  appearance  of  his  exhibit, 
and  which  sadly  handicap  the  novice  in  his  race  for  show- 
yard  honors.  But  you  say,  why  does  not  the  novice  enter 
protest  against  such  methods?  No  one  has  yet  gained  much 
outside  of  the  ill-will  of  the  whole  shepherding  fraternity  by 
pursuing  such  a  course.  Those  having  the  least  experience 
with  sheep  cannot  have  failed  to  notice  that  many  of  the 
sheep  shown  at  our  fall  fairs  must  be  phenomenal  wool- 
bearers,  if  they  are  honestly  and  fairly  shorn  not  earlier 
than  the  first  day  of  April  according  to  the  rules  laid  down 
in  most  premium  lists.  Not  long  since  a  prominent  Irish 
exhibitor  of  sheep  exhibited  his  flock,  each  member  of  which 
had  a  patch  of  untrimmed  wool  left  on  its  body,  'to  show 
the  actual  length  of  original  staple.  Many  prominent  breed- 
ers, both  English  and  Irish,  considered  this  precedent  well 
worthy  of  imitation,  some  going  so  far  as  to  express  a  wish 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  31 

not  only  to  see  it  universally  adopted  but  to  be  made  a 
compulsory  measure.  No  doubt  this  would  afford  the  judges, 
and  others  an  opportunity  of  estimating  the  amount  of  wool 
which  may  be  expected  from  any  particular  breed  of  sheep, 
but  it  is  hard  to  see  that  it  would  have  any  tendency  to 
curtail  the  now  common  practice  of  "stubble  shearing."  The 
rule  governing  the  time  in  which  show  sheep  shall  be  shorn 
is  a  useless  one  and  an  injustice  to  the  novice.  The  be- 
ginner, upon  reading  these  rules,  will  no  doubt  rigidly  adhere 
to  their  text,  and  will  then  be  greatly  surprised  to  find  when 
the  fairs  come  around  that  the  staple  of  the  wool  of  his. 
competitor's  sheep  is  twice  as  long  as  that  of  his  own.  One 
thing  is  certain,  just  so  long  as  stubble-shorn  sheep  are  al- 
lowed to  win  at  our  fairs,  just  that  long  will  sheep  be  stubble- 
shown.  It  is  no  doubt  a  pretty,  hard  thing  to  draw  the  line 
on  such  a  ticklish  question  as  this,  and  the  sooner  the  rule 
is  abolished  and  the  exhibitor  allowed  to  put  his  sheep  in 
the  ring  in  the  condition  that  his  judgment  dictates  to  be  the- 
best,  the  sooner  the  honest  and  dishonest  exhibitor  will  be 
placed  upon  an  equal  footing.  So  far  as  putting  sheep  in 
the  show  ring  in  their  rough,  uncouth  field  attire  is  con- 
cerned, it  is  no  doubt  wrong  from  a  business  or  any  other 
point  of  view.  It  is  impossible  to  illustrate  what  any  breed 
is  capable  of  doing  when  shown  in  such  a  condition.  If 
we  went  to  a  show  or  fair  our  hopes  would  not  be  realized  if, 
instead  of  seeing  the  usual  well-fed  and  beautifully  prepared 
specimens  now  to  be  seen  at  such  places,  we  saw  only  sheep 
such  as  we  could  see  every  day  browsing  on  the  pastures  of 
our  own  farms.  Those  who  would  be  reckless  enough  to  put 
an  ungroomed  and  ill-fed,  unfitted  horse  into  the  show  ring; 
would  at  once  be  dubbed  a  fit  candidate  for  the  lunatic  asy- 


32  FITTING  SHEEP 


lum.  Then  why  should  not  the  same  apply  to  the  shepherd 
who  would  dare  take  his  sheep  from  the  field  and  put  them 
into  the  show  ring  with  the  hope  of  beating  well-fitted  ani- 
mal s. 

How  to  Stubble  Shear. 

What  is  stubble  shearing?  Stubble  shearing  is,,  to  be  frank 
and  truthful,  dishonest  shearing;  nothing  more;  nothing  less. 
If  we  take  a  sheep,  and  instead  of  taking  off  the  fleece  as 
close  to  the  skin  as  possible,  we  take  only  half  of  it  off  and 
leave  the  other  half  on  to  be  trimmed  and  moulded  into  a 
shape  that  will  make  the  sheep  appear  fat,  square,  and  plump, 
we  are  guilty  of  stubble  shearing.  How  is  a  sheep  stubble 
shorn?  First,  take  your  shears  and  level  off  the  back;  next, 
make  the  under  line  or  belly  as  level  as  possible,  after  which 
trim  off  what  you  think  necessary  from  the  sides.  The  breast 
and  hind  quarters  are  usually  left  full  and  gradually  reduced 
and  molded  into  a  pleasing  form  by  frequent  trimming.  A 
sheep,  directly  after  being  stubble  shorn,  usually  presents  a 
very  rough  and  uncouth  appearance,  and  is  anything  but  a 
pleasing  picture,  but  after  it  has  been  trimmed  several  times 
it  gradually  grows  into  a  pleasing  one.  Directly  after  being 
shorn  the  sheep  should  be  well  washed,  and  then  carefully 
trimmed  while  the  fleece  is  yet  moist. 

Show  Lambs  Not  to  be  Shorn. 

It  is  unusual  to  shear  lambs  intended  for  show  purposes; 
trimming,  however,  must  be  practiced,  and  that  as  soon  as 
the  fleece  has  a  good  growth.  They  should  by  frequent  trim- 
rning  be  gradually  brought  into  the  desired  form.  The  be- 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  33 

ginner  usually  finds  more  difficulty  in  making  lambs  assume 
the  desired  form  and  smooth  state  than  from  the  adult 
members  of  the  flock.  (Trimming  is  fully  treated  on  in  an- 
other chapter.) 

Washing. 

The  washing  of  show  sheep,  when  properly  done,  is  not 
only  a  benefit  as  regards  the  look  of  the  animal,  but  is  ex- 
tremely beneficial  in  freeing  the  pores  of  the  skin  of  gummy 
and  other  foreign  matter.  It  promotes  the  flow  of  the  nat- 
ural lubricant  of  the  wool,  and  thereby  stimulates  its  growth. 
As  soon  after  shearing  as  the  weather  gets  warm  and  pleas- 
ant, the  washing  of  •  our  sheep  should  receive  attention. 
Warm  water  should  be  used;  or  more  properly,  perhaps,  cold 
water  with  the  chill  taken*  off.  Castile  or  some  other  fifot 
class  soap  should  be  used.  The  dipping  vat  is  a  very  handy 
utensil  for  washing  sheep  in.  It  is  essential  that  after  the 
animal  has  undergone  a  thorough  washing  with  soap  and 
water  that  every  trace  of  soap  be  eradicated  from  the  fleece 
by  a  thorough  rinsing  with  clean  water.  If  any  trace  of  soap 
remains  in  the  fleece  it  is  apt  to  make  it  appear  harsh,  dry 
and  brittle;  further  it  may  prove  injurious  to  the  skin. 

It  is  usual  to  wash  the  Longwool  breeds  as  soon  after 
shearing  as  the  weather  permits,  and  again  some  little  time 
previous  to  the  opening  of  the  show  season.  This  allows, 
of  the  natural  oil  saturating  the  fleece  and  making  it  assume 
a  glossy,  brilliant  appearance.  I  deem  it  advisable  to  again  im- 
press on  my  readers  the  importance  of  thorough  rinsing 
with  clean  water  to  remove  any  trace  of  soap. 

It  is  not  often  found  necessary  to  wash  lambs  of  the  Down. 


54  FITTING  SHEEP 


breeds  where  care  has  been  duly  exercised  in  keeping  them 
•clean. 

Dipping. 

Dipping  should  be  resorted  to,  even  only  as  a  precaution 
against  disease  that  may  be  lurking  around  the  cars  on 
which  our  sheep  are  transported  from  show  to  show.  Us- 
ually ticks  do  not  bother  very  fat  sheep.  Dipping  should  be 
attended  to  not  later  than  six  weeks  previous  to  the  opening 
of  the  show  season.  With  all  the  good  that  attends  ulti- 
mately the  dipping  of  our  animals  it  must  be  admitted  that 
dipping  does  detract  from  the  beauty  of  the  fleece  for  some 
little  time  after  the  operation, has  been  performed. 

Coloring. 

It  is  asserted  by  many  authorities  that  the  real  object  of 
•coloring  show  sheep  is  hidden  in  obscurity.  In  "Culley  on 
Live  Stock,"  we  glean  that:  "The  practice  of  rubbing  into 
the  wool  red  or  yellow  ochre  in  the  month  of  September  was 
intended  to  qualify  the  perspiration  which  would  otherwise 
give  an  asperity  to  the  wool,  and  to  form  a  coat  inpenetrable 
to  rain  or  cold.  This  cannot  apply  to  the  use  of  coloring 
among  our  show  flocks  of  today.  Just  why  show  sheep  are 
colored  great  diversity  of  opinion  exists  even  in  the  present 
day.  One  authority  claims  that  when  first  adopted  in  the 
preparation  of  show  stock  it  was  used  with  the  intention  of 
being  a  guide  to  the  judge  in  knowing  whose  sheep  he  was 
passing  judgment  upon;  whilst  others  claim  it  was  first  in- 
troduced into  England  by  Spanish  shepherds,  but  for  what 
purpose  they  do  not  say.  Coloring  is  condemned  by  many 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  35 

of  our  most  prominent  flock-masters  and  live  stock  journals 
generally.  No  less  an  authority  than  the  Prince  of  Wales 
sees  fit  to  offer  condemnation  to  the  "useless  habit." 

Positively  many  of  the  Down  breeds  of  sheep  are  presented 
so  daubed  with  grease  and  coloring  ingredients  as  to  make 
them  really  filthy  to  handle,  but  where  reason  and  judgment 
are  used  I  consistently  believe  a  little  coloring  adds  rather 
than  detracts  from  the  appearance  of  the  sheep;  they  appear 
more  uniform. 

I  have  found  by  experiment  and  practice  that  coloring- 
about  a  week  previous  to  showing  gives  the  best  and  most 
pleasing  effect  to  the  fleece.  Most  shepherds  have  a  most 
mysterious  formula  from  which  they  prepare  their  coloring, 
of  course  it  being  "something  my  father  used  to  use."  This 
they  guard  with  the  greatest  jealousy  and  secrecy. 

I  have  obtained  the  most  pleasing  effect  from  a  combina- 
tion of  olive,  or  palm  oil,  yellow  ochre  and  burnt  umber. 
The  oil  being  put  into  a  large  bottle  or  tin  can,  the  ochre  is 
added  as  a  ground,  and  then  the  umber  as  the  shade;  the 
whole  being  thoroughly  mixed  by  vigorous  shaking  before 
using.  The  color,  being  a  matter  of  taste,  must  be  left  to  the 
judgment  of  the  operator.  Of  course  it  must  be  borne  in 
mind  that  the  umber  is  the  regulator  of  shade  of  color.  I 
always  have  made  it  a  point  to  try  the  coloring  on  one  of 
the  ordinary  members  of  the  flock  before  using  on  the  show 
flock.  The  reason  of  this  procedure  is  obvious. 

It  is  important  that  the  shepherd  make  it  a  point  to  obtain 
the  prepared  umber  which  is  put  up  in  cans,  mixed  with  oil, 
ready  for  use.  The  dry  powdered  article  may,  •  for  what  I 
know,  bring  about  undesirable  conditions,  or  even  failure- 


-36  FITTING  SHEEP 


I  thought  it  important  to  make  mention  of  this  as  a  safeguard 
against  possible  failure. 

The  mixture  now  being  ready  for  use,  pour  a  small  quan- 
tity into  the  palm  of  the  hand,  then  rub  over  inside  of  both 
hands,  and  then  go  carefully  and  easily  and  gradually  rub 
thoroughly  into  the  fleece.  This  should  be  done  after  the 
fleece  has  undergone  a  careful  trimming.  After  the  coloring 
has  been  done  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  manipulator,  take 
the  keenest  pair  of  shears  at  command  and  again  go  most 
carefully  over  the  fleece.  If  these  directions  are  carefully  fol- 
lowed, and  faithfully  attended  to,  the  operator  must  be  a  very 
fastidious  personage  if  other  than  pleased  with  results.  The 
sheep  is  now  ready  for  blanketing. 

I  have  shown  sheep  on  two  occasions  that  were  not  col- 
ored at  all,  but  washed  early  and  kept  clean  by  thin  blankets. 
These  were  much  admired  by  many  exhibitors  and  drew  much 
attention  from  the  casual  on-looker. 

Trimming. 

Trimming  as  an  art  is  not  really  difficult  to  acquire.  Pa- 
tience and  practice  are  the  real  essentials  in  trimming.  The 
knowledge  of  what  constitutes  a  good  picture  or  model  of  a 
sheep  is  a  material  help  to  the  novice  in  putting  up  his  ex- 
hibit in  a  really  satisfactory  style.  If  the  operator  has 
artistic  tastes  so  much  the  better  are  his  chances  of  becoming 
a  first  class  trimmer. 

In  blocking  out — giving  your  subject  the  desired  form,  in 
a  rough  manner — care  must  be  observed  that  the  back  be 
made  perfectly  level,  the  breast  full  and  rounding,  also  the 
thighs  and  all  points  and  peakedness  be  eliminated  from  the 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  37 

model.  The  underline  should  be  straight  and  the  head  as 
shapely  as  possible;  in  fact  your  work  should  be  a  work  of 
.graceful  curves  and  perfectly  straight  lines.  The  above  ap- 
plies to  the  Down  breeds. 

The  Longwools  should  not  be  trimmed  close  and  smooth, 
as  is  the  case  of  the  Downs,  but  left  in  a  more  rustic  and 
natural  condition,  and  any  shaping  or  trimming  should  re- 
ceive attention  previous  to  the  final  washing.  In  the  case  of 
our  Longwool  pets  it  is  usual  to  allow  the  fore-top  to  hang 
.gracefully  down  over  the  face.  This  has  a  very  pleasing 
effect  The  pretty  Cotswolds  should  have  their  fore-tops 
•carefully  curled  before  being  presented  to  the  show-goer  or 
judge. 

I  will  now  enter  into  details  regarding  the  trimming 
proper.  Here  is  my  method:  After  my  sheep  are  "blocked 
out"  I  take  a  bucket  of  water  in  which  a  couple  of  handfuls  of 
yellow  ochre  has  been  thrown.  A  stiff  brush,  a  curry  comb 
and  an  exceedingly  sharp  thin-bladed  pair  of  shears  com- 
prise my  outfit.  With  the  water  into  which  the  yellow  ochre 
has  been  put,  I  carefully  saturate  the  fleece  of  the  sheep  under 
treatment,  using  the  brush  for  the  purpose  of  rubbing  the 
•decoction  well  in;  when  well  saturated — not  sopping — I  take 
the  curry  comb  and  give  the  fleece  a  vigorous  currying,  after 
which  I  go  over  the  fleece  most  carefully,  being  very  careful 
to  keep  as  good  a  shape  in  mind  as  possible,  and  smoothing 
the  best  I  know  how,  "straight  lines  and  graceful  curves" 
being  my  motto  and  design.  It  is  well  that  the  fleece  be 
kept  moderately  moist  by  frequent  application  of  moisture — 
of  course  having  recourse  to  the  ochre  decoction — the  shears 
also  should  be  kept  extremely  keen  and  perfectly  level  in 
trimming.  The  process  of  trimming  must  be  gone  over  many 


38  FITTING  SHEEP 


times,  on  various  occasions,  before  the  subject  under  treat- 
ment will  appear  in  a  polished  and  finished  condition  for 
exhibition. 

Blanketing. 

The  blanketing  of  show  sheep  has  a  two-fold  purpose;  the 
one,  that  of  keeping  the  fleece  clean;  the  other,  for  making 
the  fleece  compact  and  of  a  smooth,  pleasing  appearance. 
At  the  shows  we  learn  it  answers  for  many  other  purposes,, 
such  as  "keeping  the  flies  off  the  sheep,"  and  again,  "for 
keeping  the  sheep  warm."  When  on  a  tour  of  the  fairs  it  is 
tlsual  to  keep  the  blankets  on  our  sheep  whilst  on  the  cars, 
and  also  at  night  in  the  pens  in  the  show  yard;  in  fact  they 
should  be  kept  blanketed  until  after  the  premiums  have  been 
awarded,  when,  of  course,  it  may  be  supposed  the  public  is 
entitled  to  see  them  at  their  best  advantage.  By  keeping 
them  blanketed,  prior  to  being  "passed  upon,"  the  visitors 
to  the  show  yard  are  prevented  from  disarranging  the  care- 
fully dressed  fleece  of  the  animal,  thereby  preventing  no  little 
annoyance  to  the  shepherd. 

How  Blankets  are  Made. 

Blankets  may  be  made  from  a  great  variety  of  material. 
Ducking  makes  a  very  neat  and  serviceable  blanket.  Burlap 
makes  a  very  serviceable  blanket  for  home  use,  but  a  neater 
material  is  usually  preferred  for  use  at  the  shows.  For  use  in 
the  preparation  of  our  exhibition  animals  at  home  a  cheap- 
easily  made  blanket  may  be  made  out  of  ordinary  bran  bags. 

The  accompanying  diagram,  representing  an  ordinary  bran 
sack,  will  give  my  readers,  I  think,  a  fair  idea  of  how  it  should 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  39 

be  made.  The  dotted  line  A  shows  corner  of  sack  that  must 
be  cut  entirely  off.  This  allows  of  the  head  coming  through. 
The  solid  line  B  B  shows  where  and  how  the  seam-side  of 
the  sack  must  be  cut.  At  C  a  slit  must  be  made;  through  this 
the  animal's  hind  legs  go  through;  this  keeps  the  blanket  in 
position.  At  points  i,  2,  3,  respectively,  and  at  each  end  of 
slit  C,  the  blanket  will  be  materially  strengthened  by  tacking 
or  sewing.  This  prevents  tearing. 


The  above  pattern  cannot  be  well  improved  upon.  In  the 
case  of  blankets  intended  for  use  on  the  "circuit,"  however, 
which  of  course  is  made  of  some  good  material,  I  would 
suggest  the  fastening  of  the  blanket  at  the  breast  of  the  sheep 
by  buttons,  just  as  we  fasten  or  button  our  coats;  and  at  C 
in  the  place  of  a  slit  in  the  blanket  a  strap  is  buttoned,  and 
after  being  passed  underneath  or  inside  of  the  leg,  is  secured 
by  another  button,  at  the  rear  or  just  above  the  gambrel 
joint. 


40  FITTING  SHEEP 


The  Fitting  of  Wethers. 

In  the  selection  of  wethers  for  exhibition  purposes  it  is  im- 
portant that  only  those  of  the  most  perfect  mutton  type  or 
form  be  selected.  Where  it  is  intended  that  pens  are  to  be 
shown  they  should  be  well  matched  as  regard  size,  type,  etc. 
In  emasculating  lambs  that  are  intended  to  do  battle  in  the 
wether  class  it  is  well  that  the  operator  should  remove  no- 
more  of  the  scrotum  than  is  absolutely  necessary  to  success- 
fully perform  the  operation,  as  this,  when  well  filled  with  fat., 
is  not  only  a  guide  as  to  the  internal  condition  of  the  animal 
from  a  butcher's  point  of  view,  but  adds  much  to  the  sym- 
metry of  a  show  wether.  Show  wethers  are  fitted  upon  the 
exact  same  principles  as  other  show  sheep.  I  have,  how- 
ever, noticed  that  they  will  not  readily  assume  that  blubbery,. 
over-fitted  condition,  even  when  fed  upon  very  heavy  grain 
rations,  as  "entire"  sheep  are  prone  to  do. 

Making  Entries  for  Show. 

The  intending  exhibitor  should  make  early  application  for 
catalogs,  entry  blanks,  etc.,  so  that  he  may  have  ample  time 
to  determine  what  shows  he  will  attend.  He  should  be  very 
careful  to  make  his  entries  correctly  or  confusion  may  result 
when  the  time  for  judging  comes  along. 

Starting  for  the  Shows. 

This  chapter  is  intended  primarily  for  the  perusal  of  the 
young  shepherd  who  is  about  to  make  his  debut  in  show 
circles. 

From  experience  I  find  it  very  difficult  to  obtain  really 


-\B  R  A 
o-- 


UN1 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  43 

suitable  rations  for  my  show  flock  at  many,  and  I  may  say 
most,  of  our  exhibitions.  Good  clover  hay  is  sometimes 
difficult  to  obtain,  and  foods  of  a  succulent  nature,  such  as 
turnips,  cabbage,  etc.,  are  held  at  such  high  prices  as  to  pre- 
vent an  exhibitor  of  modest  means  investing  to  the  extent 
that  he  should  to  do  justice  to  the  appetites  of  the  stock 
under  his  care;  -therefore,  the  advisability  of  providing  a 
good  stock  of  rations  preparatory  to  starting  on  the  show  cir- 
cuit is  evident. 

Turnips  should  be  sacked;  rape  should  be  tied  in  neat 
bundles;  hay  should  be  baled,  and  grain  should  be  mixed 
before  starting  out.  Cabbage  should  not  be  forgotten.  If 
your  flock  is  small  it  will  not  pay  to  hire  a  car;  it  can  be 
transported  at  less  cost  by  the  hundredweight.  If  you  cannot 
get  "billed"  on  the  same  car  as  the  sheep  there  remains  two 
other  chances  of  your  going.  One  to  pay  your  fare  as  a 
passenger,  the  other  to  hide  among  the  sheep  and  keep  out 
of  sight  as  much  as  possible  whenever  the  train  stops.  Of 
course  here  is  a  risk  of  being  "kicked  off  the  car."  Every 
shepherd  should  carry  in  his  trunk  a  trocar  for  use  in  case  of 
bloat  among  his  own  or  brother  showman's  stock;  being 
careful  when  using  it  to  drive  it  in  the  direction  that  will 
avoid  its  striking  the  kidneys  of  the  animal.  Blue  vitriol,  to 
arrest  fouling  of  the  feet,  linseed  or  castor  oil  for  various  de- 
rangements of  the  stomach  and  intestines,  shears,  a  good  sup- 
ply of  blankets  for  the  sheep,  bedding  for  his  own  use,  must 
go  in  the  make-up  of  his  equipment  or  "kit."  The  fact  that 
salt  is  necessary  to  the  well-being  of  the  flock  must  not  be 
overlooked,  even  at  show  time.  It  is  well  to  remember  also 
that  the  various  members  of  the  flock  must  have  daily  exer- 


44  FITTING  SHEEP 


cise  or  the  neglect  of  this  most  important  matter  may  result 
in  sickness  and  loss. 

What  Constitutes  the  Various  Classes  of  Show  Sheep. 

An  aged  ram  is  a  ram  too  old  for  the  yearling  class,  or,, 
in  other  words,  a  ram  over  two  years  of  age. 

A  yearling,  or  shearling  ram,  is  a  ram  that  has  not  as  yet 
got  more  than  his  first  pair  of  incisors,  or  permanent  front, 
teeth,  or  a  ram  that  is  over  one  year  old,  but  under  two. 

A  ram  lamb  is  a  male  lamb  under  a  year  old,  or  one  that 
has,  not  as  yet,  got  any  of  its  permanent  incisors. 

The  ages  of  the  female  classes  are  governed  by  the  exact 
same  conditions  as  are  the  ram  classes. 

A  pen,  unless  otherwise  stated,  consists  of  three  indi- 
viduals, either  males  or  females. 

A  pair,  is,  of  course,  two  of  one  sex. 

A  flock  usually  consists  of  an  aged  ram,  yearling  ram,, 
lamb  ram,  aged  ewe,  yearling  ewe,  and  ewe  lamb. 

A  Special  means  a  special  premium  offered  outside  of  the 
ordinary  list  of  premiums,  such  as  Special  for  best  flock,. 
or  Special  for  best  ram,  etc. 

•  Sweepstakes   means   champion   or   best  animal   where   all. 
breeds  are  competing. 

Champion  means  the  best  animal  of  a  given  breed,  either 
male  or  female,  as  the  case  may  be. 

Overheating  of  Show  Stock. 

A  common  trouble  in  the  show  flock — an  entirely  too  com- 
mon a  one!  When  a  show  sheep  becomes  overheated  it  ap- 
pears very  much  distressed,  is  very  weak  in  its  hind  quarters,. 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  45 

and  consequently  cannot  stand  upon  its  feet  but  a  few  minutes 
at  a  time  before  having  to  lay  down.  An  overheated  sheep  is 
nothing  more  or  less  than  a  foundered  sheep.  As  soon  as  a 
sheep  shows  the  least  symptoms  of  being  overheated,  it  should 
be  shorn  without  a  moment's  delay,  given  a  big  dose  of  Epsom 
salts  and  kept  very  quiet  in  a  pen  by  itself.  Don't  fret  and 
worry  because  the  shearing  of  your  sheep  means  its  not  ap- 
pearing in  the  show-ring  again  that  season,  as  you  may  depend 
upon  it  that  this  is  about  the  only  way  or  means  of  saving  its 
life.  All  grain  rations  must  be  cut  off  and  nothing  but  good 
clover  hay  and  succulent  rations  fed.  Although  this  is  a  sud- 
den change  to  its  system  and  against  the  ordinary  rules  of 
good  feeding,  this  is  a  case  of  the  exception  being  better  than 
the  rule.  It  almost  passes  credence  what  a  large  number  of 

very  valuable  sheep  are  "murdered"  yearly  by  being  over- 
heated, and  their  not  receiving  the  proper  attention  when  in 
that  state.  I  have  seen  many  a  good  ram  find  an  early  grave, 
that  should  have  lived  a  long  life  of  usefulness  had  he  re- 
ceived the  necessary  and  proper  care  that  an  animal  in  such 
a  state  or  condition  should  have  had. 

The  Importance  of  Exercising  Show  Sheep  While 
on  the  Circuit. 

Shepherds  should  pay  particular  attention  that  their  exhi- 
bition flocks  get  ample  exercise  even  when  on  the  show  cir- 
cuit; it  is  disastrous  to  their  health  to  allow  them  to  remain 
prisoners  in  the  pens  of  the  show-yard  without  getting  a  due 
amount  of  exercise.  They  should  be  exercised  regularly  twice 
a  day — morning  and  evening.  No  bother  or  trouble  is  ex- 
perienced with  the  well-trained  and  educated  ram,  as  he  will 


46  FITTING  SHEEP 


icadily  follow  the  shepherd  anywhere  and  everywhere  he  may 
•wish  to  lead  him.  It  is  usual  to  exercise  the  head  of  the  flock 
first,  then  the  aged  ewes,  and  so  on  down  the  class  to  the 
lambs.  To  avoid  trouble,  stable  companions  only  should  be 
allowed  out  in  the  same  lot  at  the  same  time.  Of  course 
where  there  are  two  or  more  attendants  in  charge  of  the  flock 
the  work  of  exercising  is  but  a  small  matter,  but  nevertheless 
a  very  important  one.  Where,  as  often  is  the  case,  a  sheep 
is  noticed  to  be  "groggy''  we  may  be  sure  that  imperfect  exer- 
cise has  had  something  to  do  with  bringing  about  this  unde- 
sirable condition.  It  is  a  matter  of  impossibility  and  against 
the  rules  of  scientific  feeding  to  feed  an  animal  very  highly 
and  successfully  without  giving  it  abundant  exercise.  No 
animal  can  endure  this  treatment  long  without  seriously  suf- 
fering in  consequence. 

Sheep  Getting  Tired. 

After  a  long  journey  on  the  cars,  sheep  are  sometimes 
liable  to  become  so  tired  as  to  get  "off  their  feed."  The  young 
shepherd  need  have  no  worry  over  this.  They  need  rest,  and 
must  get  it  before  they  will  eat  much.  It  is  better  to  leave 
them  undisturbed  as  long  as  they  prefer  to  lie  down,  and  not 
attempt  to  entice  them  to  eat.  It  will  not  be  long  before  they 
will  be  up  and  as  hearty  as  ever. 

In  very  hot  weather  it  is  better  to  arrange  to  haul  ,your 
sheep  from  the  station  to  the  fair  grounds,  that  is,  if  it  be  of 
any  distance  from  the  station.  Of  course  where  sheep  have 
been  receiving  abundant  exercise  during  the  fitting  process 
they  may  be  quietly  walked  a  considerable  distance  in  the 
cool  of  the  evening,  but  they  must  not  be  hurried,  or  they 
may  become  injured. 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  47 

Judging  Day. 

This  is  a  day  of  excitement  to  the  exhibitor,  and  most,  i£ 
not  all,  are  greatly  relieved  when  this  day  is  past  and  over. 
As  I  have  before  intimated,  the  way  in  which  the  various 
members  of  our  show  flock  behave  themselves  has  no  little 
to  do  with  their  chance  of  winning.  A  sheep  that  will  stand 
"all  of  a  heap" — as  untrained  ones  almost  invariably  will — 
surely  cannot  be  said  to  be  very  taking  to  the  judge's  eye — > 
or  even  to  that  of  the  casual  observer.  Hence,  the  import- 
ance of  thorough  training. 

Most  of  our  show  yards  are  provided  with  show  rings,  the 
floors  of  which  are  perfectly  level,  so  that  all  exhibitors  are 
on  the  same  footing  as  far  as  choice  of  position  or  lay  of 
ground  goes.  Where  show  rings  are  not  in  evidence  the  ex- 
hibitor should  aim  for  his  sheep  to  stand  on  either  perfectly 
level  ground,  or,  if  the  ground  does  not  permit  of  this,  he 
should  arrange  that  his  sheep  shall  stand  with  its  head  up- 
hill. On  no  account  let  its  position  be  reversed,  as  no  sheepv 
not  even  the  most  perfectly  trained,  can  be  expected  to 
"stand  out"  properly  with  its  head  "downhill."  One  of  the 
greatest  of  England's  living  shepherds  lays  claim  that  much 
of  his  success  as  an  exhibitor  of  sheep  is  due  to  the  way  in 
which  he  prepares  and  trains  them,  so  that  they  not  only 
attract  but  keep  the  notice  and  attention  of  the  judge.  Ex- 
hibitors should  do  ail  in  their  power  to  assist  the  judge  in 
his  duties  and  should  refrain  from  "demonstration"  should 
he  not  place  the  awards  just  to  their  liking. 

Showing  Out. 

Nothing  is  more  annoying  to  the  shepherd  than  that  of 
handling  show  stock  that  has  been  imperfectly  trained  or 


48  FITTING  SHEEP 


educated.  An  animal  standing  "all  in  a  heap"  is  anything  but 
a  pleasing  picture,  even  to  the  most  casual  observer.  Sheep, 
I  must  admit,  are  somewhat  "dumb,"  but  they  are  capable  of 
being  taught  far  more  than  many  are  willing  to  give  them 
credit  for.  Constant  handling  makes  them  tame  and  man- 
ageable. Sheep  that  have  been  used  to  being  led  with  the  hal- 
ter will  soon  learn  what  is  required  of  them,  and  will  readily 
follow  their  shepherd  through  a  dense  crowd  of  people  un- 
haltered. 

To  make  a  sheep  "stand  out"  at  word  of  command,  square 
upon  its  feet  and  in  a  natural,  graceful  manner,  put  your  left 
hand  underneath  its  lower  jaw,  or  chin,  and  the  other  hand 
on  his  loin,  gently  pressing  same.  Violence  or  force  must  not 
be  confounded  with  care,  and  gentleness  or  harm  may  re- 
sult. The  pupil  will  soon  understand  what  is  required  of  him 
and  upon  having  recourse  to  the  above  method  described  will 
soon  assume  the  desired  "poise." 

How  to  Reduce  Show  Stock. 

Very  many  valuable  sheep  are  no  doubt  ruined  by  injudi- 
cious and  improper  treatment  after  their  mission  in  the  show 
yard  has  terminated. 

The  proper  management  in  the  reduction  of  show  stock  to 
normal  breeding  condition  is,  to  the  writer's  way  of  thinking, 
imperfectly  understood.  Whilst  visiting  the  English  "Royal" 
many  years  ago  I  was  struck  by  a  reply  of  one  of  the  greatest 
shepherds  of  that  day  made  to  an  inquisitive  visitor  who 
questioned  him  in  regard  to  the  reduction  of  his  show  stock 
to  normal  breeding  condition.  "Do  you  keep  these  sheep  as 
fat  as  they  now  are  always  or  do  you  reduce  their  flesh  when 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  49 

the  show  season  is  over?"  ''I  reduce  their  fat,  sir,  but  not 
their  flesh,  but  I  don't  let  them  know  it."  What  a  deal  is 
inculcated  in  this  remarkable  answer! 

In  reducing  an  animal  to  breeding  condition,  the  idea  held 
in  view  should  be  to  reduce  slowly,  and  with  the  least  pos- 
sible danger  to  the  constitution  of  the  animal.  To  reduce 
an  animal  in  a  careless  slip-shod  manner  will  soon  show  its 
effects  by  the  coat  assuming  a  lifeless,  dull  appearance,  and 
ofttimes  by  the  fleece  falling  out  or  leaving  the  skin  almost 
entirely.  That  soft,  glossy,  compact  and  brilliant  appearance 
that  denotes  good  health  of  the  animal  must  be  preserved  as 
much  as  possible.  It  is  difficult  to  entirely  preserve  this. 
The  reduction  of  fat  must  be  accomplished  more  by  exercise 
than  the  decrease  of  grain,  etc.,  at  the  first  start.  The  animal 
should  have  the  run  of  a  good  pasture,  and  then  the  grain 
ration  may  be  gradually  reduced  until  he  receives  only  suffi- 
cient to  keep  him  vigorous  and  active;  care  being  observed 
not  to  allow  of  his  being  reduced  to  "a  run-down"  condition, 
or  irreparable  point.  Ewes  should  be  reduced  as  rapidly  but 
carefully  as  possible,  so  as  to  allow  of  their  being  bred  as 
early  as  possible.  Of  course  I  am  here  alluding  to  ewes 
whose  days  of  usefulness  for  show  purposes  are  over. 

Some  little  difficulty  is  usually  experienced  in  getting  ewes 
that  have  been  repeatedly  fitted  for  show  to  breed  satis- 
factorily. Many  of  the  most  prominent  English  shepherds 
use  a  ram  lamb  on  their  show  ewes,  claiming  that  good  re- 
sults almost  invariably  follow  such  a  course;  whilst  others 
allow  two  or  more  rams  to  serve  the  same  ewe  when  in  sea- 
son. It  is,  however,  sometimes  a  very  difficult  matter  to 
induce  a  show  ewe  to  breed  satisfactorily,  and  it  is  found! 
more  profitable  in  the  end  to  sell  her  direct  to  the  butcher. 


50         FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET. 

Spring  Crops. 

Up-to-date  shepherds  and  flockmasters  are  alive  to  the 
value  of  succulent  rations  for  their  show  animals  and  aim  to 
get  same  as  early  in  the  spring  as  possible.  Nothing  in  this 
country,  by  the  author's  way  of  thinking,  furnishes  anything 
like  so  early  and  desirable  a  succulent  food,  in  early  spring, 
.as  the  sand  vetch  and  rye  sown  together,  the  latter  part  of 
August,  or  beginning  of  September.  The  sand  vetch  is  a 
winter  vetch,  which  furnishes  a  most  abundant  and  valuable 
spring  fodder  crop,  which  conies  early  to  cutting  or  pastur- 
ing, is  a  rapid  grower,  and  much  relished  by  all  kinds  of 
stock.  Both  ewes  and  lambs  make  rapid  gains  when  fed 
<laily  rations  of  it. 

It  is  advisable  to  cut  this — as,  in  fact,  it  is  all  spring  fodder 
crops  of  a  very  succulent  nature — some  little  time  before  it 
is  intended  to  be  fed  so  as  to  allow  of  its  becoming  wilted. 
Danger  from  bloat  is  then  reduced  to  a  minimum. 

The  crops  that  should  succeed  the  above  mentioned  are: 
Oats  and  spring  vetches  (sown  together  broadcast,  prefer- 
ably); oats  and  peas;  then  rape,  cabbage,  etc.,  in  the  order 
named.  Thousand-headed  kale  is  a  wonderful  cropper,  and 
-very  nutritious,  and  is  greatly  relished  by  sheep.  Clover 
hay  and  grain  should  be  fed  in  conjunction  with  the  above- 
named  valuable  crops;  it  will  keep  the  bowels  in  a  healthy 
state.  I  have  also  found  specially  prepared  lamb  foods  fed  in 
conjunction  with  the  other  rations,  of  immense  help  in  forc- 
ing along  the  lambs. 


^/\6RAR7 
VV*  THE 


UN1VEKS   TY 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.        53 

The  Preparation  of  Sheep  For  Sale  by  Auction. 

The  English  custom  of  holding  annual,  or  periodical  sales 
by  auction  of  pedigreed  sheep,  although  not  much  counte- 
nanced, as  yet,  in  this  country,  has,  where  tried,  proved  an 
unqualified  success.  The  writer  can  vouch  for  this  much 
in  one  case,  however. 

The  degree  of  success  attending  sales  conducted  by  auc- 
tion, whether  it  be  an  annual  affair  or  merely  a  dispersion 
sale,  depends — as  does  any  other  undertaking — "on  the  men 
behind  the  guns."  Needless  to  say,  anyone  contemplating 
holding  a  sale  of  this  character  should  make  full  and  untiring 
preparation  for  the  event. 

One  of  the  principal  factors  dependent  upon  the  success 
of  an  auction  sale  is  a  really  first-class  live  stock  auctioneer; 
one  who  has  a  reputation  for  this  kind  of  work;  in  fact  a 
specialist  in  his  line  of  business.  There  is  very  much  in  a 
name  when  it  pertains  to  matters  relating  to  the  pedigree 
live  stock  business;  and  I  can  assure  my  readers  that-  it 
makes  a  vast  difference  in  the  attendance  at  an  auction  sale 
as  to  the  name  of  the  auctioneer  found  in  conjunction  with 
the  catalogue,  or  appended  to  the, announcement  of  the  sale 
in  the  leading  stock  journals.  Breeders  of  repute  employ 
only  first-class  auctioneers,  with  reputations  of  undoubted 
standing. 

All  auction  sales  of  sheep  of  any  magnitude  should  be 
largely  advertised  in  the  journals  devoted  exclusively  to  the 
sheep  industry,  as  well  as  the  leading  agricultural  papers. 
The  exhibition  of  stock  at  the  various  shows  and  fairs  helps 
much  in  advertising  good  stock. 

In  the  preparation  of  a  flock  for  public  auction  much  work 


54  FITTING  SHEEP 

is  entailed.  Every  animal  should  be  catalogued,  giving  full' 
pedigree,  etc.  All  ewes  should  be  bred.  All  should  have 
careful  preparation  by  being  carefully  fed,  and  just  before 
the  sale  day  arrives  should  be  carefully  trimmed  and  num- 
bered on  the  side  or  back  with  stencil  or  stamps  and  mark- 
ing ink.  Pens  must  b.e  provided  into  which  it  is  usual,  in 
the  case  of  both  ewes  and  lambs  (other  than  show  lambs), 
to  put  three  sheep — this  making  a  pen.  The  pens  should  be 
made  of  a  temporary,  or  rather,  a  portable  character,  so  as 
to  facilitate  speed  in  allowing  the  sheep  to  run  into  the  sale 
ring.  The  ring  should  have  two  gates,  the  one  for  ingress 
the  other  for  egress.  Show  and  other  rams  are  usually  sold 
singly.  Show  ewes  and  ewe  lambs  either  singly  or  in  pairs, 
as  the  case  may  be.  It  is  well  when  making  the  pens  to  plan 
them  so  that  they  may  be  easily  converted  into  shipping 
crates;  the  shipping  of  all  sheep  to  purchasers  at  a  distance 
devolving  upon  the  vendor  of  course. 

Preparing  Rams  For  Sale. 

One  of  the  greatest  mistakes  our  shepherds  are  making  to- 
day is  the  pampering  of  rams  intended  for  service  on  the 
range.  Fancy  a  ram  receiving  access  to  rich  domestic  pas- 
tures and  grain  almost  ad  libitum  being  turned  out  with  a 
large  flock  of  ewes  on  the  .ranch  where  he  has,  as  it  were, 
to  rustle  for  an  existence.  The  writer  cannot  but  think  this 
to  be  wrong.  In  the  case  of  stud  rams  it  is  entirely  different. 
A  ram  intended  for  use  among  stud  flocks  should  receive  the 
most  liberal  care  and  feeding.  The  up-to-date,  modern  mut- 
ton sheep  is  none  other  than  the  production  of  the  highest 
art  and  skill  of  the  flock-master  in  both  mating,  feeding  and 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET. 


55 


breeding,  and  any  deviation  from  this  path  most  assuredly 
means  retrogression  and  ruin  to  the  breed.  In  the  prepara- 
tion of  stud  ranis  for  sale  it  is  not  usual,  or  even  advisable, 
to  force  them  to  such  a  degree  as  is  general  with  show  stock. 
They  should,  of  course,  be  kept  growing  from  day  of  birth, 
as  a  stunted  animal  of  any  kind  is  poor  property.  Where 
ram  lambs  or  yearlings  have  the  run  of  both  a  clover  and 
rape  field,  with  a  daily  grain  ration  composed  of  bran,  oats 
.and  oil  meal — about  three-fourths  pound  a  day — they  make 
rapid  growth.  In  the  case  of  the  Down  breeds  they  should  be 
trimmed  occasionally,  and  kept  in  as  clean  and  nice  shape  as 
possible,  and  where  it  is  intended  they  be  offered  for  sale 
around  at  the  various  fairs,  or  at  public  auction,  they  should 
be  carefully  colored  and  trimmed. 


1 

t 


a  2 


<  a 

a  ° 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.        59 


PART  II. 

The  Evolution  of  the  Modern  Mutton  Sheep. 

'HE  modern  mutton  breeds  of  sheep  are  divided 
into  two  classes,  viz.:  The  Long-wools  and 
the  Middle-wools.  In  the  first-named  class  we 
find  enumerated  the  Lincoln,  the  Devon-Long- 
wool,  the  Wensleydale,  the  Cotswold,  the 
Leicester,  the  Border-Leicester,  the  Romney-Marsh  or  Kentish 
sheep,  etc.  Among  the  Middle-wools  we  find  the  Southdown, 
the  Shropshire,  the  Oxford,  the  Hampshire,  the  Suffolk  and 
the  Dorset. 

With  the  exception  of  the  Dorset,  all  of  the  above 
named  breeds  have  undergone  a  most  wonderful  and  agree- 
able transformation  during  the  past  few  years,  and  espe- 
cially is  this  true  of  the  Shropshire,  Hampshire  and  Oxford 
among  the  down  breeds,  and  the  Lincoln,  Romney-Marsh 
and  Devon-Long-wool  among  those  of  the  Long-wooled 
breeds. 

Comparatively  speaking,  it  is  not  so  very  long  since  the 
ancestors  of  the  present  beautiful  breeds  of  sheep  were 
roaming  the  Downs  and  marshes  of  England  in  a  nomadic 
sort  of  way.  But  now  this  is  all  changed.  Fences  have 
been  built;  bogs  have  been  drained;  marshes  have  been 
reclaimed  from  the  sea  and  in  the  place  of  the  slab-sided, 
narrow-chested,  poor-fleeced,  long-legged,  thin-fleshed  ani- 


60  FITTING  SHEEP 


mal  that  was  "monarch  of  all  he  surveyed"  in  those  days, 
we  have  an  animal  of  the  most  beautiful  conformation — in 
fact  "a  thing  of  beauty  and. a  joy,"  to  the  shepherd,  at  pres- 
ent if  not  "forever."  With  the  introduction  of  forage  crops 
into  England  rapid  strides  and  advancements  were 'made  in 
the  science  and  art  of  feeding  and  breeding  as  applied  to 
sheep  raising.  By  careful  selection,  and  careful  mating 
very  many  most  beautiful,  and  very  symmetrically  con- 
formed animals  and  breeds  have  been  evolved  and  estab- 
lished. By  generous  feeding  the  average  size  and  weight  of 
the  respective  breeds  have  been  substantially  increased,  as 
has  also  the  weight  and  quality  of  the  fleece.  Then  in  most 
cases  the  objectionable  horns  have  been  eliminated,  and  in 
various  other  ways  has  improvement  been  brought  about 
in  the  animal  that  was  once  "Fed  as  God  Almighty  fed  the 
fowls  of  the  air  and  the  fish  of  the  sea,  upon  what  they 
could  pick  up  themselves  of  Nature's  bounty,  without  the 
labor  or  assistance  of  man." 

Another  most  valuable  quality  that  care  in  selection,  mat- 
ing, feeding  and  breeding  has  brought  about  is  that  of 
early  maturity.  It  is  not  so  very  long  since  wethers  were 
kept  until  they  had  reached  the  age  of  two  years,  or  even 
more,  before  being  marketed.  Heavier  sheep  of  superior 
quality  are  now  marketed  under  one  year  old. 

Since  care  has  been  the  watchword  of  those  td  whom  we 
are  indebted  for  the  many  beautiful  breeds  of  sheep  we 
today  have,  it  is  clear  it  must  be  ours  also  if  we  wish  to 
avoid  the  deterioration  and  retrogression  of  our  flocks. 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  61 

The  Relation  of  Shepherd  and  Flockmaster. 

Shepherds,  like  poets,  are  born,  not  made.  A  shepherd  in 
the  truest  sense  of  the  word  is  considerably  more  than  a  man 
that  herds  sheep.  A  shepherd  is  one  endowed  with  instinct 
and  skill  that  is  remarkable  when  it  pertains  to  the  manage- 
ment of  a  flock.  The  inherent  love  for  the  work  debars  him 
from  giving  up  his  humble  calling  for  one  of  a  more  elevating 
and  remunerative  nature.  The  fold  is  the  paradise  of  the 
shepherd.  The  sheep  are  his  children.  His  one  topic  of 
conversation  is  sheep!  sheep!  sheep!  A  good  shepherd  is  a 
busy  man,  and  a  business  man.  Shepherds'  abilities  vary  to 
a  very  considerable  extent.  In  the  general  management  of  a 
flock  many  are  adepts  at  their  business,  but  lack  ability  in  the 
preparation  of  specimens  for  the  show  ring,  where  good 
flocks  are  to  be  found.  There  also  should  be  found  mutual 
friendship  existing  between  flockmaster  and  shepherd,  famil- 
iar chats  and  an  exchange  of  ideas  between  flockmaster  and 
shepherd  bring  about  untold  good.  It  is  usually  more  satis- 
factory for  a  shepherd  to  take  care  of  a  flock  whose  owner  is 
an  expert  shepherd  himself — one  who  knows  the  ins  and  outs 
of  the  busines,  and  knows  when  his  shepherd  is  or  is  not, 
doing  the  right  thing  with  his  flock.  A  flockmaster  not  him- 
self an  expert  in  the  management  of  the  flock,  could  not  do 
better  than  leave  the  practical  management  of  same  to  the 
discretion  and  riper  judgment  of  his  shepherd,  after  having 
made  clear  to  him  his  wishes,  as  to  the  result  desired  to  be 
attained.  If  a  shepherd  has  not  the  ability  to  run  a  flock  to 
the  owner's  satisfaction,  the  owner  has  his  remedy.  For  a 
flockmaster  who  is  not  well  posted,  who  is  incompetent,  -to 
interfere  in  the  management  of  a  flock  that  an  expert  shep- 
herd has  been  hired  to  take  charge  of,  is  fatal  to  his  own 


62  FITTING  SHEEP 


interest.  As  soon  as  a  shepherd  finds  he  is  interfered  with 
in  the  management  of  the  flock  he  quickly  imagines  his 
abilities  are  not  appreciated,  he  becomes  discouraged,  dis- 
appointed and  despondent;  in  fact,  useless  and  incapable.  A 
shepherd  can  no  more  run  a  stud  flock  without  the  neces- 
sary appliances  than  a  mechanic  can  work  without  tools. 
Yet  there  are  flockmasters  who  sadly  handicap  a  shepherd 
by  making  no  provision  for  even  the  crudest  of  appliances, 
and  then  wonder  why  his  sheep  are  not  in  bloom.  Shepherds 
should  receive  a  fixed  salary  with  an  added  bonus  resultant  on 
the  size  and  quality  of  the  lamb  crop. 

A  greater  piece  of  folly  could  not  be  thought  of  than  that 
of  an  owner  of  a  flock,  who,  being  himself  a  novice  in  the 
business,  hiring  an  expert  shepherd  to  care  for  his  flock  and 
then  dictating  to  him  how  to  run  it.  The  shepherd,  if  he  has 
a  particle  of  manhood  about  him,  could  and  would  not  tol- 
erate such  an  outrage  on  his  rights  for  one  moment.  Ofttimes 
the  shepherd  is  better  qualified  to  make  sales  of  sheep  than 
is  his  employer,  he  being  conversant  with  their  individual 
qualities,  pedigrees,  etc.,  which  he  has  at  his  fingers'  ends, 
ready  for  use  when  occasion  offers.  It  is  the  duty  of  the 
flockmaster  to  provide  abundant  shelter,  food,  appliances, 
•etc.,  for  the  use  of  the  shepherd  in  the  management  of  his 
flock.  He  should  be  prepared  to  furnish  separate  enclosures 
for  the  sole  use  of  the  sheep,  and  should  be  ready  to  do  any 
and  everything  that  the  shepherd  suggests  that  would  tend 
to  the  welfare  of  the  flock.  A  neglected  or  ill-managed 
stud  flock  is  an  eye-sore  and,  indeed,  a  very  poor  property. 

When  flockmaster,  shepherd  and  sheep  disagree, 
They  will  do  much  better  divided  in  three. 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  63 

On  Purchasing  the  Flock. 

When  purchasing  a  flock  the  young  beginner  should  ex- 
ercise the  greatest  care  and  be  very,  very  cautious,  or  he 
may  purchase  disease  with  it.  He  should  be  on  the  lookout 
for  scab,  foot- rot  and  liver-rot.  "  Although  the  last  men- 
tioned complaint  is  not  common  in  this  country  a  case  is 
sometimes  met  with.  Where  a  sheep  suffers  from  a  dis- 
eased liver  the  membrane  of  the  eye  assumes  a  yellowish 
tinge  and  the  animal  swells  up  under  the  jaws.  The  flesh 
or  fat  rather,  of  some  sheep  is  naturally  yellow — yellow 
as  butter.  I  have  met  many  such  cases  as  these  when  work- 
ing as  a  slaughterman.  Yellow  mutton  of  course  is  an 
extremely  hard  thing  for  the  butcher  to  dispose  of  at  any- 
thing like  a  profitable  figure.  The  greatest  security  the 
novice  has  against  purchasing  sheep  that  are  diseased  is  to 
buy  from  breeders  of  repute,  breeders  who  have  'made  them- 
selves famous  by  their  skill  as  breeders  and  feeders,  and 
their  honesty  and  integrity.  The  novice  should  not  buy 
culls  at  any  price;  they  are  not  cheap  at  any  figure.  Good 
old  matronly  ewes  should  not  be  classed  as  culls,  unless  they 
are  toothless.  These  are  usually  found  to  be  good  milkers 
and  mothers,  and  of  course  profitable  lamb  raisers.  It 
should  be  remembered  that  good  shepherds  do  not  usually 
keep  ewes  until  old  unless  they  have  some  special  qualities 
to  recommend  them.  It  is  often  better  for  the  novice  to 
start  with  such  as  these  than  to  start  with  younger  ewes. 
Good  old  ewes  will  take  care  of  their  lambs  themselves, 
while  young  ewes  sometimes  cause  no  end  of  trouble,  even 
to  the  experienced  shepherd,  by  refusing  to  acknowledge 
their  lambs.  Of  course  where  the  intending  purchaser 


64  FITTING  SHEEP 


is  an  experienced  practical  shepherd  young  ewes  are  to  be 
preferred  for  various  reasons. 

In  purchasing  a  pedigreed  ram  or  in  fact  any  class  of 
sheep,  individual  merit  should  be  studied  first  and  pedigree 
after.  It  should  be  understood  that  while  pedigree  is  of  the 
utmost  value,  all  pedigreed  sheep  are  not  animals  of  a  high 
order  of  merit.  It  is  not  advisable  that  the  inexperienced 
start  out  with  a  large  flock.  A  small  flock  of  sheep  will,  in 
a  great  degree,  take  care  of  themselves,  but  where  large 
flocks  are  considered,  unlimited  skill  and  care  must  be  be- 
stowed on  them  or  deterioration  and  perhaps  disease  will 
soon  be  in  evidence.  A  small  flock  of  from  twenty  to  thirty 
head  will  give  the  novice  no  end  of  pleasure  and  as  his 
flock  increases  in  size  so  will  he  gain  in  experience  and 
knowledge  along  the  line  of  shepherding.  In  selecting 
breeding  ewes  it  is  important  that  their  udders  or  bags 
be  perfect.  Although  a  ewe  with  a  broken  bag  shows  un- 
mistakable evidence  of  being  an  extraordinary  milker  she 
has  had  her  day,  for  through  the  carelessness  of  the  shep- 
herd, either  at  lambing  time  or  the  weaning  period  she  has 
been  ruined  and  should  now  be  cast  aside  as  a  breeder,  as 
should  also  a  -ewe  with  one-half  of  the  udder  hard  and 
fleshy. 

A  ewe  extra  thick  and  masculine  in  neck  usually  proves  a 
poor  breeder  and  an  inferior  milker.  Don't  select  the 
thick  fat  ewes  out  of  a  flock  for  breeders;  they  have  either 
failed  to  breed,  or  to  have  raised  a  lamb.  A  heavy  milking 
ewe  is  rarely  fat  when  suckling  a  lamb.  Don't  allow  the 
idea  of  purchasing  show  ewes  for  breeding  purpose  to  enter 
your  head,  or  the  chances  are  you  will  meet  with  disap- 
pointment. Don't  be  advised  to  purchase  show  sheep  of 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  65 

any  kind  unless  you  have  some  idea  of  what  it  is  to  man- 
age such  stock.  Of  course  there  is  nothing  to  bar  you 
from  ultimately  handling  even  the  most  valuable  and  costly 
flocks  with  every  success  when  you  have  made  the  business 
a  study.  There  is  nothing  so  far  as  the  writer  is  aware  to 
hinder  any  one  from  being  an  accomplished  shepherd  if  he 
is  willing  to  devote  his  time  faithfully  to  the  study  of  both 
the  theoretical  and  practical  part  of  sheep  husbandry. 

The  Fleece  of  Breeding  Stock. 

The  quality  of  the  fleece  of  the  mutton  breeds  of  sheep, 
although  of  a  secondary  consideration  as  compared  with 
the  case  of  the  fine  wool  breeds,  must  not  be  entirely  lost 
sight  of,  for  no  matter  how  perfect  and  symmetrical  the 
general  conformation  of  the  body  may  be  the  absence  of 
a  tolerably  fine  quality  of  fleece,  and  covering,  relegates 
the  animal  to  a  second  class  place.  Although  among  the 
Down  breeds,  the  animal  carrying  a  somewhat  coarse  fleece 
usually  carries  a  fleece  of  longer  staple  than  the  one  carrying 
the  fine  fleece,  and  is  often  the  heaviest  shearer,  a  fine  com- 
pact fleece  is  usually  preferred,  and  the  sheep  carrying  the 
same  is  usually  considered  the  most  valuable  property. 

As  in  the  case  of  show  sheep,  the  fleeces  of  stock  sheep, 
both  rams  and  ewes,  should  be  carefully  and  critically  ex- 
amined and  any  showing  serious  defects,  such  as  black 
spots,  kemp,  or  coarse  wool  along  the  breech  should  be 
immediately  discarded  as  breeders,  as  bad  points  and  de- 
fects will  most  assuredly  be  transmitted  to  the  offspring  with 
far  more  readiness  than  will  the  good  ones;  therefore  too 


€6          FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET. 

much    care    cannot    be    exercised    in    this    regard    when    se- 
lecting suitable  specimens  for  the  breeding  flock. 

If  we  err  in  the  selection  of  our  foundation  flock  we  can- 
not expect  other  than  mistakes  to  crop  out  right  along 
the  line  of  our  career  as  shepherds. 

Mating. 

To  mate  a  ram  extra  strong  in  points  to  ewes  that  are 
deficient  in  these  particular  points,  as  recommended  by  some 
writers,  appears  to  me  as  queer  reasoning.  Two  wrongs 
can  never  make  one  right.  A  ram  that  is  extra  strong  in 
any  one  point  must  be  weak  in  many  others,  or  in  other 
words,  is  not  a  smooth,  symmetrical  animal.  I  have  al- 
ways considered  that  a  ram  should  be  as  smooth  and  sym- 
metrical as  possible,  and  that  by  breeding  from  this  type 
for  a  few  years  his  type  and  conformation  will  ultimately 
and  most  assuredly  be  impressed  on  the  whole  flock, 
whereas  if  one  year  we  select  a  ram  strong  in  one  particular 
point  and  another  year  select  one  strong  in  another  par- 
ticular point,  we  will  be  ever  changing  our  type,  to  say 
nothing  of  being  obliged  to  keep  a  large  flock  of  rams  on 
hand  to  meet  the  different  requirements  and  defects  of  the 
numerous  individuals  of  the  ewe  flock.  By  sticking  to  a 
smooth,  symmetrical  type  of  ram  we  are  bound  to  accom- 
plish something  of  a  desirable  nature,  but  by  using  rams 
extra  strong  in  any  one  particular  point,  it  is  hard  to  clearly 
see  what  good  can  be  gained.  The  shepherd's  motto 
should  be:  "Use  only  symmetrical  rams." 

In-Breeding. 

Some    one    has    said    that  •  "in-breeding    is    playing    with 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.       69 

sharp-edged  tools."  Unquestionably  it  is,  and  those  not 
being  well-versed  in  their  use  are  certainly  very  liable  to 
come  to  grief  and  disaster  in  handling  them.  No  doubt  in- 
breeding has  done  much  toward  fixing  the  type  of  various 
animals  so  firmly  as  to  warrant  their  coming  under  the 
name  of  pure-bred.  But  those  of  us  who  are  not  well  versed 
in  the  laws  of  breeding  had  better  leave  such  work  to  abler 
hands.  This  is  a  science  of  which  but  very  few  of  even 
our  very  best  shepherds  or  flockmasters  can  lay  claim  to 
know  much  about.  Therefore  in-breeding  cannot  be  rec- 
ommended with  any  degree  of  safety,  especially  to  the 
young  shepherd.  It  is  always  advisable  to  introduce  new 
blood  into  the  flock  each  year.  This  is  one  sure  and  easy 
way  of  sustaining  vigor  and  constitution. 

Treatment  of  the  Ram  When  in  Service. 

Rams  intended  to  do  service  in  the  breeding  flock  should 
receive  the  most  liberal  treatment  both  as  regard  feed  and 
exercise.  My  experience  has  taught  me  that  where  they 
have  the  run  of  a  clover  or  rape  patch  during  the  night, 
and  are  housed  during  the  day,  they  do  excellent  service. 
A  ram  will  eat  two  quarts  of  oats  a  day  with  his  usual 
ration  of  rape,  peas,  oats,  or  whatever  he  may  be  getting 
in  the  way  of  green  stuff,  without  the  least  injury  to  his 
constitution  during  the  service  season.  How  many  ewes 
a  ram  will  serve  in  a  single  season  without  injury  to  his 
constitution  is  a  somewhat  mooted  question.  There  is  no 
doubt  but  what  a  ram  if  allowed  the  opportunity  will  serve 
a  greater  number  of  ewes  than  is  good  for  his  constitution, 
and  what  should  ordinarily  be  allowed  him.  Where  a  ram 


70  FITTING  SHEEP 


is  "stood"  he  should  serve  60  ewes  without  showing  the 
least  sign  of  fatigue  or  injury.  This  is  the  number  I  should 
advise  where  the  ram  is  full  of  vigor;  and  of  course  we 
should  use  none  other.  If  the  ram  is  well  taken  care  of 
during  the  day  no  harm  is  liable  to  follow  if  he  be  turned  in 
with  the  flock  during  the  night  after  being  "ruddled"  with 
a  mixture  of  lamp-black  and  oil,  or  some  other  coloring 
substance.  When  "ruddling"  a  ram  the  shepherd  should 
be  particular  to  observe  that  the  coloring  matter  is  well 
rubbed  on  the  breast  and  between  the  fore  legs  so  that  it 
will  be  clearly  imprinted  on  the  ewe's  rump  after  being 
served,  a  proof  that  the  ram  has  satisfactorily  performed 
the  duties  expected  of  him. 

The  Teaser. 

Many  flockmasters  to  save  wear  and  tear  of  the  consti- 
tution of  a  very  valuable  stud  ram  employ  what  is  known 
as  a  "teaser"  to  search  for  and  point  out  the  ewes  that  are 
in  heat,  thereby  saving  the  vigor,  strength  and  constitu- 
tion of  the  stud  ram.  Any  ewes  that  he  may  point  out 
as  being  in  heat  are  immediately  taken  to  the  pen  and 
served  by  the  stud  ram.  A  wether  is  often  found  to  do  this 
work  satisfactorily;  where  a  ram  is  used  an  apron  should 
be  so  placed  upon  him  as  to  prevent  copulation.  The  best 
way  to  make  an  apron  is  to  get  an  old  sack,  cut  three 
holes  in  it,  one  for  the  head,  and  two  smaller  ones  for  the 
forelegs  to  go  through.  The  remaining  portion  of  the 
sack  is  then  brought  back  under  the  belly  of  the  animal  and 
securely  fastened  around  the  body  a  few  inches  back  of  the 
penis.  It  is  important  that  the  "teaser"  be  examined  each 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET. 


day  to   see  that  the  penis  and  surroundings  do  not  become 
foul  from  the  effects  of  the  animal's  own  urine. 

The  Sheep  Barn. 

The  sheep  barn  need  not  be  a  costly  structure  provided 
it  be  comfortable.  In  building  a  barn,  however,  it  is  well  to 
bear  in  mind  that  ample  room  be  allowed  overhead  for  the 
accommodation  of  a  suitable  quantity  of  hay  for  the  use 
of  the  sheep  during  winter.'  There  should  also  be  space 
enough  left  in  one  corner  of  the  building  for  a  small  room 
or  office  for  the  use  of  the  shepherd  in  which  he.  may 
sleep,  eat  and  cook  during  the  busy  time  of  the  lambing 
season.  It  is  well  also  to  make  arrangements  that  the 
watering  troughs  and  other  useful  devices  be  placed  inside 
the  barn,  that  is,  in  those  parts  of  the  country  where  the 
winters  are  severe.  The  watering  devices  should  be  on  the 
automatic  plan;  good  serviceable  ones  can  be  purchased 
at  a  nominal  figure.  Hay  racks  should  be  so  made  and 
arranged  that  they  may  be  used  as  divisions  in  the  barn. 
It  is  important  that  ample  means  of  ventilation  be  pro- 
vided. 

For  the  benefit  of  those  of  my  readers  who  are  desirous 
of  building  a  really  fine  up-to-date  sheep  barn  I  am  allowed, 
by  permission  of  the  publishers  of  Wool  Markets  and  Sheep, 
of  Chicago,  to  reproduce  the  illustrations  and  descriptions 
of  the  magnificent  sheep  barn  of  Mr.  Oakleigh  Thorne,  of 
Thome  Farm,  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Thorne  de- 
scribes his  sheep  barn  in  the  following  words: 

"After  discussing  many  plans  for  a  model  sheep  barn  I 
decided  that  a  side-hill  barn  200x50  feet  with  an  L  on  the 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.       73 

southwest  corner  28x42  feet,  and  an  extension  30x30  feet  on 
the  north  side,  would  meet  all  requirements.  The  base- 
ment is  extended  for  breeding  ewes,  the  southwest  exten- 
sion for  the  rams'  and  shepherd's  room,  and  also  to  break 
the  northwest  winds  from  the  yards  and  the  extension  on 
the  north  side  for  a  root  cellar  in  the  basement  and  grain 
room  overhead.  The  building  is  constructed  on  the  canti- 
lever principle,  thoroughly  braced  and  bolted  with  seven- 
eighths-inch  iron  bolts.  The  advantages  of  this  construc- 
tion are,  that  no  posts  are  required  above  basement,  which 
leaves  a  practically  clear  mow  the  entire  length  of  the 
building.  Strength  and  cheapness  are  also  claimed,  but 
I  frankly  admit  that  the  latter  did  not  receive  much  consid- 
eration. The  foundation  walls  are  2  feet  3  inches  thick 
and  14  feet  high  "above  ground,"  built  of  faced  stone  laid 
in  cement,  plastered  on  the  outside  with  a  mixture  of  pitch 
and  tar.  The  lumber  used  is  all  of  first  quality  of  the  fol- 
lowing dimensions:  Sills,  girts,  posts,  levers  and  main 
rafters,  8x12  inches;  flooring,  2x5  matched;  roof  seal  tight 
and  shingled  with  California  red  cedar  shingles.  The  base- 
ment is  14  feet  high,  and  as  the  photograph  of  the  interior 
shows,  I  have  an  abundance  of  windows.  The  lower  panes 
of  glass,  which  are  stationary,  are  30x15;  the  upper  glass  is 
15x15,  set  in  sash  and  operated  by  the  Hitching  system  of 
ventilation  which  is  in  common  use  in  greenhouses.  It  is 
operated  by  one  crank  in  the  center  of  the  building.  By 
this  means  I  get  equal  ventilation  and  save  time  by  opening 
and  shutting  all  the  windows  from  one  central  point  and  by 
one  movement.  The  doors  are  7^x10  feet,  hung  by  a  steel 
band  running  over  a  pulley  and  run  up  and  down.  As  the 
doors  weigh  but  five  pounds  more  than  the  weights,  they 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.        75 

run  very  easily  and  so  far  work  most  satisfactorily.  The  slat 
'•doors  which  are  shown  (shut)  in  the  photograph,  are  hung 
in  the  same  way  just  inside  of  main  door.  I  left  nine  inches 
between  the  center  braces,  running  an  iron  bar  through, 
which  can  be  easily  pulled  out,  the  idea  being  to  take  it  out 
when  the  feed  is  being  put  in  and  the  ewes  and  lambs  are 
out  in  the  yards,  to  allow  the  lambs  the  opportunity  of  hav- 
ing the  first  pick  at  the  food.  The  doorways  are  rounded 
with  narrow  matched  stuff  so  that  the  ewes  cannot  get 
jammed  running  in  or  out.  The  posts  in  basement  are 
round,  14  inches  in  diameter.  The  corners  of  all  racks  are 
planed  off,  and  in  fact  there  is  not  a  sharp  corner  in  the 
basement  where  a  ewe  can  rub  her  fleece  loose.  I  have 
divided  the  space  in  five  pens.  The  silo  in  northwest  corner 
is  10x12x30,  thoroughly  braced  and  secured.  Each  pen 
has  access  to  water  and  a  yard.  The  L  is  divided  into  a 
shepherd's  room  and  five  pens  in  which  I  keep  the  stock 
rams.  The  room  is  perfectly  plain  and  at  all  times  con- 
tains a  warm  stove,  Jersey  milk  (without  tubercular  bacilli), 
and  a  wee  drop  of  gin — which  ingredients,  if  properly  mixed 
and  applied,  make  the  best  combination  for  a  weak  lamb 
or  a  cold  shepherd  that  I  know  of.  My  buildings  (twenty- 
seven  in  number)  and  stock  are  always  subject  to  inspec- 
tion." 

In  the  Shepherd's  Room. 

In  every  well-appointed  sheep  barn  there  should  be  a 
room  set  apart  for  the  exclusive  use  of  the  shepherd.  In 
it  should  be  found  a  comfortable  bed.  bedding,  and  an  oil 
stove  with  which  he  may  cook,  not  only  his  own  rations  but 


-3H 


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! 


5 


t/ooa  °o 
«M 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.        7? 

any  little  article  of  nourishment  that  the  sick  ewe  or  her 
offspring  may  be  in  need  of  at  any  time  during  the  lambing 
season.  There  should  be,  also,  a  medicine  chest  in  this 
room  in  which  should  be  kept  the  following  articles:  Two- 
syringes,  one  for  syringing  out  wounds,  etc.,  the  other  to- 
be  used  in  giving  injections.  Shears  must  not  be  forgot- 
ten; then  knives,  a  probang,  trocar,  needles,  splints, — made 
from  bamboo, — and  cardboard  to  be  used  in  some  cases  in 
the  place  of  splints  made  of  bamboo.  Silk  thread,  cotton-wool 
and  bandages  must  also  be  provided.  A  drenching  bottle  must 
be  included  in  this  list.  Then  drugs  must  not  be  forgotten. 
Neither  can  we  afford  to  forget  flaxseed,  wherewith  to  make 
that  nourishing  and  soothing  article,  flaxseed  tea.  Al- 
though there  are  a  large  number  of  drugs  that  may  be  used 
by  the  skilled  veterinarian  with  beneficial  results  in  the 
flock,  I  shall  include  none  but  what  the  average  shepherd 
is  familiar  with  and  which  I  know  from  actual  experience 
are  to  be  recommenced: 

Carbolic  Acid. — A  solution  of  carbolic  acid  in  proportion 
of  60  to  i  is  very  valuable  used  as  an  injection  for  a  ewe 
that  has  been  recently  relieved  of  a  dead  lamb.  This  solu- 
tion is  also  very  useful  as  a  disinfectant,  and  for  washing 
the  hands  after  handling  animals  that  may  be  suffering 
from  a  disease  of  a  contagious  nature. 

Alum. — On  account  of  its  astringent  properties  is  very 
useful  in  diarrhea;  applied  externally  is  very  useful  in  pre- 
venting excessive  bleeding  from  cuts  or  wounds. 

Butter  of  Antimony. — A  caustic  when  mixed  with  other 
agents  is  of  great  service  in  treating  footrot. 

Bluestone. — A  caustic  used  in  the  preparation  of  footrot 
remedies,  and  useful  in  the  treatment  of  navel  ill  in  lambs. 


78  FITTING  SHEEP 


Borax. — Very  useful  as  an  antiseptic  and  very  beneficial 
in  washing  lambs'  mouths  that  may  be  suffering  from 
aptha. 

Castor  Oil. — Very  useful  in  cases  of  constipation  and 
diarrhea. 

Carbonate  of  Ammonia. — A  valuable  stimulant  of  great 
service  in  cases  where  ewes  have  a  "hard  time"  in  lambing. 

Ginger. — Ginger  has  many  very  valuable  medicinal  prop- 
erties, being  a  stimulant,  stomachic,  and  carminative.  If 
given  in  connection  with  purgatives  the  griping  pains  usu- 
ally caused  by  these  will  be  lessened. 

Laudanum. — This  is  a  great  alleviator  of  pain  in  stomach 
troubles,  and  in  cases  of  painful  or  difficult  parturition  it  is 
of  the  greatest  service. 

Tar. — Useful  as  an  antiseptic,  diuretic,  stimulant,  para- 
siticide and  expectorant.  When  rubbed  on  the  noses  of 
sheep  suffering  from  "snots"  its  beneficial  effects  are  at 
once  apparent.  It  is  also  useful  in  preventing  the  gad  fly 
from  gaining  admission  to  the  sheep's  nostrils. 

Hyposulphite  of  Soda. — Very  useful   in  cases  of  bloat. 

Rosin. — This  is  a  very  useful  astringent;  when  lambs  are 
iound  to  be  scouring  badly  after  being  put  on  rape,  about 
half  an  ounce  of  this  per  head  per  day  for  three  successive 
days  will  usually  bring  about  the  most  pleasing  results.  Where 
a  ram  is  not  able  to  urinate  freely  rosin  will  be  found  to 
help  him  considerably. 

Sweet  Spirits  of  Nitre. — Given  in  4-dram  doses  is  a  very 
valuable  diuretic.  It  is  advisable  that  the  animal  be  kept 
moderately  warm  after  receiving  a  dose  of  this  drug. 

Nitric  Acid. — Nitric  acid  is  a  caustic  used  in  the  treat- 
ment of  footrot,  etc. 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  791 


Male  Shield  Fern. — One  of  the  greatest  remedies  known 
for  the  removal  of  tapeworm  from  sheep.  The  dose  is  one 
dram  of  the  liquid  extract  for  an  adult  sheep. 

Linseed  Oil. — Is  a  safe  and  useful  laxative.  Ten  ounces 
is  a  dose  for  an  adult  sheep. 

Epsom  Salts. — A  valuable  purgative.  Dose  for  an  adult 
sheep,  four  ounces. 

Charcoal. — Useful   in    checking   fermentation   and   bloat. 

Chalk. — Will  correct  acidity  of  the  stomach. 

Whisky. — Whisky  is  very  useful  as  a  stimulant  to  both 
dam  and  ewe,  and  some  say  for  the  shepherd,  too. 

Ventilation. 

The  ventilation  of  the  sheep  barn  is  a  very  important 
matter,  and  one  that  should  receive  the  most  serious  and 
careful  consideration  by  the  shepherd.  It  is  absolutely  nec- 
essary that  he  fully  understands  and  appreciates  the  differ- 
ence between  necessary  ventilation  and  ruinous  draughts. 
While  the  former  means  health,  vigor,  and  prosperity,  the 
latter  most  assuredly  mean  sickness,  loss,  and  disaster.  No. 
animal  enjoys  the  cold,  bracing,  and  invigorating  elements 
of  our  North  American  winters,  and  reveals  the  true  evi- 
dence of  its  health-giving  influence  more  than  our  modem 
mutton  sheep,  and  no  animal  suffers  more  from  the  deadly 
draughts  than  they  do.  Draughts  are  especially  injurious 
to  young  lambs  and  are  quite  often  the  direct  cause  of 
rheumatism,  joint-ill,  and  many  other  ills  which  would 
scarcely  ever  be  in  evidence  did  the  shepherd  but  under- 
stand the  true  cause  of  these  troubles;  therefore  the  im- 
portance of  fixing  the  doors,  windows,  and  ventilators  in 


SO  FITTING  SHEEP 


such  a  way  as  to  make  it  easy  for  the  shepherd  to  "temper 
the  winds  for  the  benefit  of  his  lambs." 

How  Often  Should  the  Sheep  Barn  be  Cleaned. 

This  is  a  question  often  asked  but  rarely  satisfactorily 
•answered.  However  often  it  may  be  cleaned  it  is  advisa- 
ble and  important  that  this  work  be  attended  to  just  pre- 
vious to  the  commencement  of  the  lambing  season,  and 
more  than  this,  it  is  advisable  to  rush  the  work  through  at 
as  lively  a  rate  as  possible  when  once  begun  as  the  ewes 
must  necessarily  suffer  more  or  less  from  the  unpleasant 
odors  arising  from  the  manure  while  such  work  is  in  opera- 
tion. After  the  manure  has  been  removed  it  is  a  good  plan 
to  scatter  some  air-slaked  lime  over  the  floor.  This  makes 
a,  good  disinfectant,  and  a  good  deodorizer.  Many  flock- 
masters  do  not  remove  the  manure  from  their  sheep  barns 
oftener  than  once  a  year.  While  this  method  may  work 
satisfactorily  in  the  case  of  very  small  flocks,  no  one  set- 
ting any  value  on  a  really  good  stud  flock  would  be  liable 
to  follow  this  plan.  Just  as  soon  as  the  flock  goes  to  pas- 
ture the  barn  should  be  thoroughly  cleaned  out,  or  the 
manure  will  depreciate  ir^  value  from  the  escape  of  am- 
monia from  it. 

The  Importance  of  Abundant  Bedding. 

Where  sheep  are  allowed  to  wallow  around  in  the  mud 
the  shepherd  must  expect  trouble  from  foot-scald,  espe- 
cially where  an  excessive  quantity  of  the  animals'  own  ex- 
crement is  mixed  with  the  mud.  Foot-scald  is  usually  the 


l 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET       8$ 

forerunner  of  footrot.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  many  a  good 
flock  has  been  ruined  through  the  neglect  of  the  shepherd 
to  provide  the  necessary  bedding  for  it.  Footrot  is  a 
wonderfully  easy  disease  to  contract,  but  a  terribly  hard 
one  to  get  free  from  when  once  it  has  secured  a  foothold  on 
the  farm.  Perhaps  it  would  not  be  out  of  place  to  mention 
here  the  necessity  of  removing  the  placenta,  or  cleaning, 
of  the  ewes,  especially  those  from  ewes  that  have  aborted. 
Of  course  if  any  be  allowed  to  remain  in  the  barn  ob- 
noxious odors  are  bound  sooner  or  later  to  be  the  result, 
which,  to  say  the  least,  is  decidedly  wrong  from  a  sanitary 
point  of  view,  not  to  make  mention  of  its  liability  of  caus- 
ing serious  trouble,  such  as  abortion',  etc.,  in  the  flock. 
That  foul  odors,  from  whatever  cause  arising,  are  injurious 
tmd  detrimental  to  the  general  health  of  sheep  no  reason- 
able person  will  dispute;  hence  the  importance  of  cleanly- 
kept  and  well-bedded  barns  and  yards. 

The  Value  of  a  Straw  Stack. 

A  straw  stack  in  the  sheep  yards  adjoining  the  sheep  barn 
is  a  very  desirable  thing  to  have,  notwithstanding  some  lit- 
tle disadvantages  it  may  have.  The  one  most  serious  ob- 
jection to  having  it  placed  in  the  sheep  yards  is  that  the 
wool  on  the  neck  of  the  -sheep  is  liable  to  become  filled 
with  dust  and  chaff  while  they  are  searching  for  the  best 
elements  of  which  it  consists.  But  the  advantages  gained 
by  the  saving  of  hay,  etc.,  offsets  all  injury  done  to  the 
fleece  by  this.  Sheep  enjoy  picking  the  dust  and  finer  por- 
tions of  straw  from  the  stack,  especially  if  it  be  an  oat 
straw  stack.  Ewes  and  lambs  delight  in  lying  alongside 


64  FITTING  SHEEP 


of  it,  and  they  will  be  found  there  more  often  than  in  the 
barn,  excepting  it  be  when  the  weather  is  very  cold  and 
severe. 

The  Imporftnce  of  Keeping  Sheep  of  Different 
Ages  Separated. 

Sheep  of  different  -ages  and  different  classes  should  be 
kept  separated.  Neither  yearlings  nor  lambs  should  be  kept 
together,  as  each  require  entirely  different  treatment. 
Breeding  ewes  should  be  kept  entirely  by  themselves,  es- 
pecially when  heavy  with  lamb.  To  allow  a  lot  of  rams  to 
run  with  the  breeding  flock  at  any  time  is,  to  say  the  least, 
violating  the  rules  of  good  shepherding.  Again,  the  ra- 
tions of  the  breeding  ewe  are  not  of  the  nature  that  is 
•desirable  for  the  proper  development  of  the  growing  stud 
ram,  neither  are  the  rations  that  the  yearlings  should  be 
receiving  the  ideal  ones  for  the  lambs;  therefore  the  im- 
portance of  keeping  sheep  of  various  ages  and  classes  sep- 
arated must  be  readily  apparent.  If  our  shepherds  would 
only  feed  their  young  stock,  especially  the  ram  lambs  and 
yearling  rams,  a  little  heavier  and  their  breeding  ewes  a 
little  lighter,  the  constitution  and  value  of  their  stock  would 
l>e  greatly  enhanced. 

Shepherd's  Marking  Ink. 

Many  shepherds  having  charge  of  thoroughbred,  or  more 
properly,  pure-blooded  sheep,  mark  their  sheep  as  a  means 
of  identification  with  the  initials  of  the  owner  of  the  flock. 
Anyone  handy  with  carpentering  tools  or  even  a  common 
jackknife  can  easily  cut  letters  out  of  a  block  of  wood  that 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  85 

will  fully  answer  the  purpose  of  the  shepherd  in  marking  his 
sheep.  Tar  is  sometimes  used  in  marking  sheep,  but  it  is 
not  the  thing  to  use,  proper  marking  ink  being  far  prefer- 
able, as  it  does  not  in  any  way  injure  the  wool.  In  mark- 
ing a  sheep  place  the  mark  on  its  back  or  rump  so  that  it 
can  be  easily  seen,  no  matter  in  what  position  the  animal 
is  standing. 

Hurdles. 

A  few  dollars  invested  in  a  hundred  or  so   of  hurdles  is 
one   of   the   most  profitable   investments    a   flockmaster   can 


HURDLE.    No.  1, 

make,  especially  where  intensive  farming  is  considered.  By 
Ihe  use  of  these  the  flock  is  more  easily  and  profitably  man- 
aged. The  waste  in  the  feeding  off  of  soiling  and  forage 
•crops  is  reduced  to  a  minimum  and  each  grade  of  sheep 
can  be  kept  apart  and  thereby  given  a  better  opportunity  to 
thrive,  especially  the  younger  members  of  the  flock,  than 


FITTING  SHEEP 


is  the  case  where  sheep  of  all  ages,  sorts,  and  conditions  are 
allowed  to   roam  together. 

During  the  shearing  and  dipping  season  the  value  of  hur- 
dles will  be  fully  appreciated.  They  can  be  used  in  winter 
for  building  yards  around  the  sheep  barn  and  for  many  other 
purposes. 


HURDLE.    No.  2. 


I  herewith  give  illustrations  of  two  different  styles  of  hur- 
dles. No.  I  is  one  which  is  easily  set,  but  is  somewhat 
cumbersome  to  handle.  In  length  it  should  be  made  from 
eight  to  twelve  feet  long,  of  some  light,  durable  material. 

No.  2.  is  also  easily  and  quickly  made  by  anyone  having 
a  fair  knowledge  of  the  use  of  carpenters'  tools.  A  careful 
study  of  Fig.  2  will,  I  think,  give  my  readers  a  clear  idea 
of  how  this  hurdle  is  made. 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  87 

Lambing  Pens. 

I  am  not  in  favor  of  permanent  lambing  pens,  for  various 
teasons,  among  them  being  the  fact  that  a  ewe  taken  from 
the  flock  and  placed  in  a  strange  pen  away  from  where  she 
can  get  a  view  of  her  companions  is  apt  to  worry  and  fret, 
a  fact  which  cannot  be  said  to  conduce  to  successful  yean- 
ing. I  have  found  portable  pens,  made  in  the  following 
manner,  to  give  very  satisfactory  results:  Take  four  2x2 
posts  about  3l/2  feet  long,  and  12  boards  about  3^2  feet 
long,  6  inches  wide  and  ^/\  of  an  inch  in  thickness.  These 
when  nailed  together  should  form  a  handy  pen  3^2  feet 
square,  which,  when  a  ewe  shows  unmistakable  symptoms 
of  yeaning,  can  be  placed  over  her  and  molestation  from 
other  members  of  the  flock  be  prevented,  although  at  the 
same  time  she  is  not  debarred  from  having  a  full  view  of 
her  companions.  Where  large  or  small  sheep  are  con- 
sidered of  course  the  dimensions  of  the  pen  can  be  fixed  to 
suit  the  circumstance  of  the  individual  case.  The  shepherd 
should  use  judgment  and  care  that  the  boards  are  fixed 
close  enough  together  to  prevent  the  lambs  from  creeping 
through  between  them  and  wandering  away  from  the  dam. 
As  soon  as  the  yeaning  season  is  over  these  portable  pens 
can  be  knocked  down  and  stored  away  for  use  another 
season. 

The  Care  of  Pregnant  Ewes. 

The  result  of  the  lamb  crop  depends  largely  on  the 
amount  of  care  the  ewes  receive.  The  good  shepherd  will 
see  that  his  ewes  are  properly  sorted,  or  graded,  so  that 
the  young  and  robust  animals  do  not  crowd  out  the  older 


88  FITTING  SHEEP 


and  less  robust  members  of  the  flock  from  the  feed  troughs, 
hay-racks,  etc.  He  will  also  see  that  the  doorways  are 
wide  enough  for  the  ewes  to  get  through  without  their  be- 
coming wedged  and  doing  themselves  serious  injury  when 
rushing  through  to  get  their  grain  ration.  The  ewe 
should  be  kept  quiet  and  unmolested  during  lambing.  She 
should  be  provided  with  quiet  and  pleasant  surroundings. 
She  should  not  be  moved  out  of  the  sight  of  the  flock,  or 
she  is  liable  to  worry  considerably  previous  to  and  until 
she  has  been  delivered  of,  and  has  the  company  of  her 
offspring.  Then,  again,  the  shepherd  should  pay  particular 
attention  that  his  ewes  are  kept  free  from  molestation  by 
strange  dogs.  He  will  feed  them  rations  of  a  cooling; 
nature  in  preference  to  those  of  a  heating  one,  as  he  well 
knows  that  abortion  is  often  resultant  of  injudicious  feed- 
ing of  such  a  ration.  Ewes,  when  heavy  in  lamb,  must 
be  handled  very  carefully  and  be  kept  from  all  undue  ex- 
citement, or  a  successful  lambing  cannot  be  expected.  They 
should  not  be  fed  sour  or  mouldy  ensilage,  or  abortion 
will  most  assuredly  be  brought  about.  Pure  water  must 
be  abundantly  supplied,  and  salt  must  not  be  forgotten  if  a 
good  lambing  season  is  looked  for.  If  it  becomes  abso- 
lutely necessary  to  "throw"  or  "turn  up"  a  ewe  for  the 
purpose  of  dressing  her  feet,  etc.,  great  care  should  be 
observed  in  doing  so,  or  she  may  be  so  badly  injured  as  to- 
bring  forth  a  dead  offspring,  her  year's  usefulness  thereby- 
being  thrown  away,  as  it  were. 

It  is  not  feed,  altogether,  that  counts  toward  a  successful 
lamb  crop,  but  care,  and  faithful  attention  to  little  details- 
such  as  the  above  mentioned.  Another  important  matter 
I  should  have  mentioned  before  closing  this  subject  is, 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  89 

the  iMiportance  of  seeing  that  the  yards  and  surroundings 
are  such  as  to  prevent  the  slipping  and  sliding  of  the  ewes, 
as  an  abortion  is  often  traceable  to  this  cause. 

The  Importance  of  Exercise  for  Breeding  Ewes. 

Without  a  reasonable  amount  of  exercise  no  ewe  can  be 
•expected  to  bring  forth  a  healthy,  vigorous  offspring.  Where 
•due  attention  is  not  given  to  this  important  matter  we 
may  look  for  our  lambs  to  come  small,  puny,  and  perhaps 
goitred.  Ewes  having  insufficient  exercise  during  preg- 
nancy usually  experience  a  very  trying  time  when  yeaning, 
and  the  loss  of  many  a  valuable  ewe  may  be  traced  to  this 
cause.  To  keep  ewes  penned  up  in  small,  or  narrow  pens 
during  Winter  and  stuffing  them  with  grain  is  entirely  wrong 
—it  is  nothing  short  of  killing  them  with  kindness.  Ewes 
should  be  allowed  plenty  of  exercise;  they  should  be  al- 
lowed the  range  of  a  large  field  in  the  day  time,  rather  than 
be  compelled  to  remain  prisoners  within  the  narrow  limits 
of  the  average  yard  allowed  them  by  many  shepherds.  They 
should,  to  a  certain  extent,  be  made  to  rustle  for  a  living, 
as  exercise  not  only  tends  to  increase  the  quality  of  the 
lamb  crop,  but  likewise  the  size. 

Change  of  Pasture. 

Without  frequent  change  of  pasture  sheep  cannot  be  ex- 
pected to  thrive  at  their  best.  True,  they  will  keep  alive, 
and  may  appear  tolerably  thrifty,  but  sheep  put  into  a 
pasture  field  in.  the  Spring  and  compelled  to  stay  there 
until  Fall  will  never  attain  the  size  they  would  have,  had 
they  had  frequent  change  of  pasture. 


90  FITTING  SHEEP 


Sheep  love  a  change  of  pasture  even  if,  as  far  as  the 
pasture  is  concerned,  the  change  is  from  better  to  worse, 
and  vice  versa.  This  is  amply  proven  by  the  fact  that 
sheep  that  may  be  lying  in  a  luxuriant  piece  of  pasture,  with 
every  evidence  of  their  appetites  being  appeased,  and  their 
stomachs  comparatively  full  will,  upon  being  moved  to 
another  pasture,  no  matter  how  poor,  immediately  com- 
mence to  eat  as  if  exceedingly  hungry.  Then,  again,  frequent 
change  of  pasture  takes  the  sheep  away  from  where  they  are 
bound  to  inhale  odors  from  their  own  excrement  in  a  very 
strong  degree.  Frequent  change  of  pasture  allows  of  the  pas- 
tures becoming  purified  to  a  great  degree.  Where  sheep  are 
pastured  almost  continually  in  one  field  the  land  becomes 
what  the  English  shepherd  calls  ''sheep  sick,"  i.  e.,  the  land 
smells  "sheepy;"  the  sheep  tire  of  the  pasture  and  do  not 
thrive,  but  on  the  other  hand  seem  to  get  smaller,  year 
by  year,  appear  puny,  sickly,  and  even  become  diseased. 
This  is  a  very  important  matter  for  consideration  and  one 
which  the  young  shepherd  should  give  due  attention  to,  if 
he  is  in  hopes  of  ever  reaching  the  goal  of  success  as  a 
shepherd. 

Feeding  the  Breeding  Ewes. 

The  shepherd  should  see  that  his  breeding  ewes  get  a 
light  grain  ration  just  as  soon  as  they  show  the  least  signs 
of  losing  flesh,  which  would  be  about,  or  not  later  than 
Nov.  I5th,  unless  the  fall  be  very  mild  and  pastures  abun- 
dant. While  they  should  not  be  kept  fat  they  should  be 
"kept  coming"  right  along,  and  be  gaining  in  flesh  slowly 
rather  than  be  allowed  to  run  down.  Oats  and  bran,  mixed, 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  91 

make  the  best  grain  ration  for  breeding  ewes;  a  little  oil 
meal  added  makes  a  better  ration  perhaps,  especially  toward 
lambing  time.  Corn  is  not  a  desirable  ration  for  ewes, 
although,  perhaps,  better  than  nothing  at  all  in  the  shape 
of  supplementary  food.  One-half  a  pound  of  grain  will  be 
found  fully  sufficient  for  a  breeding  ewe  until  she  has 
lambed,  where  good  fodder,  etc.,  is  plentifully  provided. 

A  Cheap  and  Healthful  Ration  for  Breeding  Ewes. 

The  most  economical  and  satisfactory  ration  I  have  ever  yet 
fed  to  a  breeding  flock  of  ewes  was  composed  of  cut  clover  hay 
and  cut  oat-straw,  equal  parts,  with  which  was  mixed  pulped 
turnips,  bran  and  bruised  oats.  In  mixing  this  it  was  my 
aim  that  each  ewe  should  get,  with  all  the  cut  hay  and  oat- 
straw  she  could  eat,  about  five  pounds  of  turnips  and  one- 
half  pound  of  bran  and  bruised  oats  per  day.  This  ration 
was  fed  in  troughs  made  especially  for  the  feeding  of  such 
rations.  They  were  made  ten  feet  in  length,  one  foot  in 
width  and  seven  inches  in  depth,  and  stood  on  small  blocks. 

The  ewes  did  not  get  fat  on  this  ration  but  kept  in  the  finest 
possible  breeding  condition,  they  being  playful,  agile,  strong 
and  covered  with  a  beautifully  lustrous  fleece.  The  crop  of 
lambs  from  these  ewes  was  a  phenomenal  one.  They  were 
large,  strong  and  scarcely  a  feeble  one  among  the  whole 
bunch.  The  ewes  milked  heavily  and  kept  in  fine  condition 
until  they  went  to  pasture.  I  should  have  mentioned  that 
just  about  when  lambing  commenced,  having  run  short  of 
turnips,  I  commenced  to  feed  lightly  on  mangels  and  added 
also  a  small  daily  allowance  of  oil-cake  to  the  ration. 

Where  the  feeding  of  such  a  ration  as  the  above  is  con- 


92          FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET. 

sidered  it  is,  of  course,  important  that  the  mixing  room 
be  adjoining  the  sheep  barn,  in  fact,  the  main  door  of  the 
root  cellar  should  open  directly  into  the  sheep  barn.  This 
prevents  any  danger  of  the  pulped  roots  becoming  frozen. 
Frozen  roots  are,  of  course,  decidedly  injurious  to  breed- 
irrg  ewes,  or,  in  fact,  any  class  of  stock.  It  is  advisable 
to  mix  enough  for  a  full  day's  ration  at  a  time,  care  being 
taken  that  the  pile  is  not  allowed  to  heat;  this  being  pre- 
vented by  seeing  that  the  pile  be  not  over  a  foot  or  eighteen 
inches  in  height.  If  the  weather  be  very  cold  it  should  be 
covered  with  old. blankets,  sacks  or  something  that  will  pre- 
vent freezing. 

Regularity  in  Feeding. 

I  have  always  considered  that  sheep  thrive  better  on  p'oor 
rations  regularly  fed  than  on  better  rations  when  fed  irregu- 
larly. Regularity  in  feeding  is  one  of  the  most  valuable 
secrets  possessed  by  the  shepherd.  Sheep,  although  not 
generally  thought  to  be  so  intelligent  as  many  other  species 
of  our  domestic  animals,  are  nevertheless  very  sensitive  to 
every  minute  that  passes  after*  the  usual  feeding  hour  has 
arrived.  Just  as  soon  as  that  hour  comes  they  announce 
its  arrival  by  restlessness  and  continual  bleating.  Bleating" 
means  wear  and  tear  of  the  sheep's  anatomy,  therefore  it 
must  be  clear  that  the  more  regular  we  are  in  administering 
to  their  wants  the  less  wear  and  tear  there  is  on  their 
system,  and  the  less  food  it  takes  to  keep  them  in  condi- 
tion. 

Were  our  prominent  exhibitors  irregular  in  their  methods 
of  feeding  they  could  never  bring  out  their  exhibits  in  the 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.        95> 

shape  they   do.      It  would  be   simply   an   utter  impossibility 
for  them  to  do  so. 

When  Should  Lambs  Come. 

When  I  have  plenty  of  roots  the  earlier  my  lambs  come 
the  better  it  suits  me.  Whether  intended  for  the  ear^ 
markets  or  for  stud  purposes,  I  have  found  the  early  lamb 
the  most  profitable  and  satisfactory,  provided  I  have  plenty 
of  succulent  rations,  such  as  common  turnips,  rutabagas, 
mangels,  etc.;  but  where  these  are  not  at  command,  I  prefer 
my  lambs  to  come  not  earlier  than  the  first  of  April.  Lambs 
born  so  that  when  they  take  their  first  lessons  at  eating 
they  may  do  so  in  the  pasture  fields  usually  grow  away  so 
fast  from  those  having  learned  to  eat  dry  rations  in  the 
sheep  barn  that,  ultimately,  they  prove  to  be  the  most  profit- 
able property;  but  where  roots  have  been  plentiful  no  lamb 
has  ever  given  me  the  pleasure,  profit,  and  consequently  the 
satisfaction,  that  the  early  lamb  has. 

Another  consideration  as  regards  the  time  when  our  lambs 
should  come  is,  whether  or  not  we  have  suitable  barn  ac- 
commodation for  the  comfort  of  the  little  weaklings,  when 
the  mercury  is  away  below  zero.  If  we  have  not  comfort- 
ably-prepared quarters  for  their  benefit  it  is  better  to  have 
our  lambs  come  when  danger  of  exceedingly  cold  weather 
is  past. 

The  First  Symptoms  of  Yeaning. 

The  first  common  symptoms  of  a  ewe  about  to  yean  is 
restlessness.  A  drop  on  either  side  of  the  backbone,  back 
of  the  pin  bones,  which  gives  the  tail  the  appearance  of 


FITTING  SHEEP 


being  set  on  very  high,  is  next  noticeable.  A  lowering  of 
the  belly,  and  a  somewhat  distracted  look  next  follows 
.and  adds  to  the  many  symptoms.  After  a  while  a  slight, 
•clear  discharge  is  noticed  coming  from  the  vulva,  which 
increases  in  quantity  until  the  water  bladders  or  sacs  make 
their  appearance.  The  ewe  now  usually  has  severe  pains 
^ind  commences  to  strain  violently.  She  will  lay  down  and 
.get  up  again  repeatedly  and  paw  the  ground  and  make  a 
series  of  circular  movements  of  the  body  as  if  seeking  a  suit- 
able place  for  depositing  her  offspring.  She  appears  the 
very  picture  of  misery.  When  the  final  "pains"  of  parturition 
come,  however,  she  will  lay  on  the  ground  and  strain  very 
"heavily  until  she  has  succeeded  in  bringing  forth  her  off- 
spring. 

How  to  Manage  a  Ewe  When  Yeaning. 

Just  so  long  as  a  ewe  is  doing  well,  according  to  the 
-usual  course  of  Nature,  it  is  best  to  let  her  alone,  but  where, 
in  the  case  of  her  experiencing  unnecessary  trouble  and  diffi- 
•culty  in  bringing  forth  her  offspring,  a  little  help  is  not  out 
•of  place,  but  rather  beneficial  to  her.  Now,  in  the  case  of 
a  large-headed  lamb,  sometimes  by  a  little  timely  help  from 
the  shepherd,  the  ewe  may  be  spared  a  considerable  amount 
•of  pain  and  loss  of  strength.  Where  the  lamb's  head  is 
-abnormally  large  the  shepherd  can  materially  assist  the  ewe 
by  putting  his  opened  hand  on  the  skin  of  the  vulva,  that 
covers  the  skull  of  the  lamb,  and  by  gently  pushing  or 
pulling  it  rather  back  over  the  skull  of  the  lamb,  the 
head  is  practically  free.  The  ewe,  left  to  her  own  resources, 
Ttnay  have  had  a  very  trying  time,  of  a  duration  of  an  hour 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  9? 

or  more,  to  accomplish  what  she  has  done  with  the  help  o£ 
the  shepherd  in  less  than  a  minute.  The  head  being  free, 
the  shepherd  should  now  take  the  lamb's  feet  and  pull  them 
cut  straight,  one  at  a  time;  after  this,  by  taking  both  feet 
in  one  hand  and  pulling  the  lamb  in  a  circular  direction 
toward  the  ewe's  udder,  it  comes  away  easily.  As  soon 
as  the  lamb  is  born  pull  the  hind  legs  through  your  hand 
and  rub  the  mucus,  that  comes  off  the  lamb's  legs,  on  the 
nose  and  mouth  of  the  ewe.  This  will  arouse  her  maternal 
instinct  and  is  sometimes  the  means  of  saving  much  trouble 
later  on.  Now  put  the  lamb  where  the  ewe  can  perform. 
her  maternal  duties  of  cleaning  it.  I  have  always  con- 
sidered that  a  ewe  is  very  apt  to  forget  her  offspring  by 
not  seeing  it  sooner  after  it  is  born  than  they  sometimes, 
do  when  left  alone  by  themselves  to  lamb;  especially  is 
this  true  where  a  ewe  has  had  a  difficult  time  in  lambing,, 
and  being  left  so  weak  as  to  be  unable  to  rise  and  take 
care  of  the  lamb  while  the  mucus  was  yet  fresh  and  warm. 
It  is  always  advisable  that  just  the  moment  a  lamb  is  born 
the  shepherd  or  attendant  should  free  the  lamb's  mouth 
from  the  thin  mucous  membrane  that  usually  covers  it. 
Sometimes  the  neglect  of  this  is  the  cause  of  a  serious  loss 
of  lambs,  through  their  becoming  suffocated.  It  is  attention- 
to  such  little  details  as  these  that  swells  the  percentage  of 
the  lamb  crop,  and  surprises  the  careless  shepherd  when 
he  hears  of  big  lamb  crops. 

Troubles  in  Yeaning. 

The    most    trying   season    in    the   life    of   a   ewe    is    when 
about  to    give  birth  to   the   offspring.     This,   of  all   others, 


98  FITTING  SHEEP 


is  the  most  anxious  time  for  the  shepherd.  If  we  have 
been  thoughtful  and  careful  in  feeding  and  caring  for  our 
ewes,  we  may  be  said  to  have  reduced  danger  of  loss  in 
the  lambing  season  to  a  minimum.  If,  as  too  often  is  the 
•case,  our  ewes  have  been  fed  too  highly,  there  is  much 
danger  from  parturient  apoplexy,  while  on  the  other  hand, 
poor  feeding  brings  about  weakness  and  its  consequent 
dangers.  Then  again,  feeding  a  ewe  too  highly  just  after  she 
has  lambed  often  causes  the  ewe  to  scour,  and  also  brings 
trouble  in  the  shape  of  garget;  in  either  case  the  lamb 
suffers.  The  lamb,  under  normal  conditions,  comes  fore 
feet  first,  next  comes  the  head  laying  on  the  fore  legs. 
Sometimes  the  head  of  the  lamb  will  be  found  turned  back 
against  its  side,  then,  again,  sometimes  it  seems  determined 
to  come  stern  first,  with  the  legs  doubled  back.  In  the 
former  case  the  shepherd  should  push  the  lamb  back  into 
the  womb  and  there  straighten  it  out  so  that  it  may  come 
in  the  natural  way.  In  the  latter  case  mentioned  the  lamb 
should  likewise  be  pushed  back  into  the  womb,  the  hind  legs 
straightened  out,  and  the  lamb  then  removed  from  the  ewe, 
hind  parts  first.  Of  course,  usually,  this  is  the  wrong  way 
for  a  lamb  to  come,  but  in  this  case  it  is  the  easiest,  and 
therefore  the  right  way. 

One  important  matter  to  be  studied  by  the  shepherd,  that 
tends  much  to  a  successful  lambing  season,  is  that  in  per- 
forming operations  of  this  kind  he  throw  sentiment  to  the 
winds  and  go  to  work  in  a  business-like  way  and  manner. 
If  he  considers  that  a  ewe  needs  help  let  him  help  her 
right  away,  for  "delays  are  dangerous."  If  a  ewe  appears 
faint  and  almost  "played  out,"  he  should  not  forget  that  a 
stimulant  may  save  her. 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  99' 

Luck  is  care.  That  is  how  I  translate  the  word  as  applied 
to  shepherding.  Much  of  the  success  associated  with  the 
lambing  season  is  due  to  the  care  and  attention  the  ewes 
receive  during  the  month  before  and  the  first  few  days,  or 
weeks,  after  lambing.  Flocks  whose  treatment  during  the 
last  two  months  previous  to  lambing  has  been  such  as  to 
produce  health  and  vigor  of  constitution,  without  producing 
an  undue  development  of  fat,  almost  invariably  pass  through 
the  trying  ordeal  of  yeaning  with  but  few  losses,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  superiority  of  the  lamb  crop  from  same  over 
that  of  ewes  that  have  been  improperly  cared  for. 

Ewes  Disowning  Their  Own  Lambs — How  to 
Make  Them  Own  Them. 

The  maternal  instinct  is  sometimes  so  strongly  devel- 
oped in  a  ewe  that  she  is  little  short  of  crazy  after  she 
is  delivered  of  her  offspring.  She  will  run  around,  and  in 
her  excitement  and  frenzy  will  sometimes  cause  her  newly- 
born  offspring  serious  injury  by  treading  on  it,  and  after 
a  while,  strange  to  say,  she  will  utterly  disown  the  little 
thing.  Then,  again,  we  sometimes  find  a  ewe  of  a  very 
contrary  disposition  that  will  absolutely  refuse  to  own  her 
lamb.  Sometimes  this  is  a  clear  case  of  mistaken  identity, 
as  in  the  case  where  she  will  take  to  a  lamb  not  her  own. 

Sometimes  from  lack  of  maternal  instinct,  caused  in  many 
cases  from  lack  of  milk,  a  ewe  will  take  no  notice  whatever 
of  any  lamb.  Where  the  maternal  instinct  is  fully  matured 
in  a  ewe  little  trouble  is  experienced  in  making  her  own 
cither  her  own  or  a  strange  lamb;  but  where  this  is  minus 
no  amount  of  humoring  will  get  her  to  own  her  own  or 


100  FITTING  SHEEP 


-any  other.  There  are  about  eight  different  ways  of  making 
a  ewe  own  a  strange  or  disowned  lamb,  most  of  which  I 
have  tried  with  varied  success.  It  is  always  desirable  to 
have  a  stanchion  for  the  unruly  members  of  the  ewe  flock 
who  refuse  to  own  their  offspring  or  a  strange  lamb. 

How  to  Hake  a  Stanchion. 

The  stanchion,  a  description  of  which  I  herewith  grve, 
is  a  crude  affair  but  will  answer  all  intents  and  purposes 
•of  the  shepherd,  although  more  elaborately  built  and  finished 
ones,  made  on  the  same  principles  would  be  the  thing  where 
a  well-fitted  and  well-appointed  barn  is  considered.  It  is 
made  in  this  way:  Take  four  stakes  and  well-sharpen  them; 
drive  two  of  them  into  the  ground  in  such  a  way  that  the 
-ewe's  neck  will  be  caught  and  held  firmly  between  them, 
of  course  observing  care  that  she  be  able  to  move  herself 
freely,  but  still  be  unable  to  extricate  her  head  from  be- 
tween them.  This  done,  take  the  two  remaining  stakes  and 
-drive  them  firmly  into  the  ground  in  such  a  manner  that  a 
stake  will  be  on  either  side  of  her  body  at  a  point  near  the 
flank.  This  apparatus,  although  preventing  her  from  twist- 
ing around  and  injuring  the  lamb,  does  not  interfere  with 
her  lying  down  in  comfort.  It  is  well  to  tie  the  stakes  at  the 
top,  care  being  used  that  they  are  not  drawn  so  close 
together  as  to  injure  the  ewe.  A  ewe  fixed  in  a  stanchion 
-as  above  described  cannot  well  prevent  a  sprightly  lamb 
from  gaining  all  necessary  sustenance,  as  she  is  compara- 
tively helpless  to  do  so.  It  takes  but  a  few  days  for  her 
-to  take  a  motherly  view  of  the  case,  with  the  result  that  both 
the  ewe  and  lamb  are  satisfied  to  "jog  on  through  life's 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  101 

rough  road"  comfortably  together.  The  Scotch  whisky 
remedy  consists  of  rubbing  a  little  whisky  over  the  lamb's 
back  and  over  the  ewe's  nose.  Scotch  shepherds  claim  this 
remedy  to  have  its  recommendations.  The  method  adopted 
.  by  many  shepherds  of  cutting  off  the'  tail  of  the  lamb  and 
rubbing  the  blood  over  the  ewe's  nose  and  on  the  back  of 
the  lamb  is  one  used  in  some  cases  with  marked  success. 
Then  the  method  of  milking  the  ewe's  milk  onto  the  back 
of  the  little  stranger  has  its  recommendations.  Where  a 
«we  has  a  dead  lamb,  and  it  is  intended  that  she  act  as  a. 
foster-parent  to  some  strange  lamb,  the  dead  lamb  should 
be  skinned  while  the  animal  heat  is  yet  in  its  body  and 
the  skin  placed  on  the  one  which  it  is  desired  she  should 
adopt.  The  ewe's  nose  should  be  scratched  with  a  pin  or 
something  that  will  not  cause  her  any  serious  amount  of 
unnecessary  pain.  The  small  quantity  of  blood  coming 
from  the  wound  will,  to  use  a  slang  phrase,  "fool"  her  and 
thereby  bring  about  an  affection  that  is  true  and  lasting  be- 
tween the  two.  To  be  candid,  I  am  averse  to  scratching 
the  ewe's  nose,  but  I  have  proved  it  to  have  merits  to 
recommend  it. 

In  the  case  of  a  ewe  having  a  fair  average  supply  of  both 
lacteal  fluid  and  instinct,  but  for  some  unknown  reason  she 
absolutely  refuses  to  recognize  her  lamb — as  is  often  the 
case  with  young  ewes — by  putting  the  ewe  and  lamb  in  a 
small  enclosure  together  and  suddenly  introducing  the  shep- 
herd dog  into  their  company  a  sudden  reconciliation  is  often 
brought  about. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  some  ewes  are  wholly  de- 
void of  maternal  instinct  and  never  will  show  any  regard 
for  a  lamb. 


102        FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET. 


Where  one  method  fails  to  bring  about  the  desired  friend- 
ship between  a  ewe  and  lamb,  others  should  be  tried.  Some- 
times where  one  method  fails  another  succeeds. 

How  to  Suckle  a  Lamb. 

A  healthy,  vigorous  lamb  loses  no  time  in  hunting  the 
fountain  of  sustenance  that  Nature  has  provided  for  it,  but 
for  various  reasons  young  lambs  do  not,  sometimes,  readily 
take  to  the  teat,  many  even  absolutely  refusing  it.  This  is 
often  taken  for  stubbornness  on  the  part  of  the  lamb  by  the 
young  shepherd,  when  in  reality  it  is  nothing  more  ojr  less 
than  Nature  dictating  to  it  what  is  good,  and  what  is  not 
good  for  its  constitution.  The  real  trouble  lies  in  the  fact 
that  its  stomach  is  already  full  and  to  force  it,  under  the 
existing  circumstances,  to  take  milk  or  any  other  food  into 
this  already  over-loaded  organ  means  death  to  it.  Then, 
again,  in  the  endeavor  to  force  its  mouth  open  the  lips  are 
liable  to  become  so  sore  that  the  lamb  fears  to  take  the  teat 
at  all.  When  a  strong,  robust,  new-born  lamb  refuses  to 
suck  it  should  be  left  alone  for  a  while.  Its  appetite  will 
soon  come,  and  it  will  then  willingly  partake  of  the  neces- 
sary nourishment. 

When  a  lamb  is  anxious  to  take  the  teat  but  for  some  rea- 
son appears  unable  to  take  or  hold  it  in'  its  mo'uth,  exam- 
ination will  usually  reveal  the  fact  that  the  tongue  is  too 
thick,  or  in  other  words,  it  is  deformed.  I  have  never  yet 
succeeded  in  saving  a  lamb  thus  afflicted,  and  further.  I  do 
not  think  the  time  spent  in  trying  to  save  such  as  these 
is  profitably  spent  any  way.  If,  as  often  is  the  case,  it  is 
difficult  to  get  a  weakly  lamb  to  take  hold  of  the  teat,  the 


C  3 


V   OF  THE 


UNIVERSITY 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET      105 

shepherd  should  take  a  small  quantity  of  cow's  milk  (which, 
if  very  rich,  should  be  diluted  with  one-third  water,  to 
which  is  added  a  little  sugar  or  molasses)  into  his  own 
mouth  and  slowly  squirt  this  into  the  lamb's  mouth.  Of 
course  when  the  lamb  gets  strong  it  should  be  given  into 
the  dam's  charge. 

Reviving  a  Chilled  Lamb. 

The  best  of  shepherds,  where  he  has  to  attend  to  a  large 
flock  single-handed,  is  liable  to  have  a  chilled  lamb  to  fuss 
witTi  once  in  a  while.  A  shepherd,  like  any  other  human 
being,  cannot  work  day  and  night,  only  for  a  limited  period. 
In  spite  of  everything  he  may  do  the  small,  weak  lamb  will 
put  in  its  appearance,  and  generally  on  a  very  cold  day  or 
night,  or  when  the  shepherd  is  taking  a  much  needed  rest, 
the  consequence  being  that  it  becomes  chilled  and  a  burden 
to  the  shepherd.  With  all  the  care  it  receives,  it  will  hover 
between  life  and  death  for  several  days,  and  even  then 
sometimes  play  out.  Of  course  the  longer  a  lamb  stays 
without  being  attended  to  after  becoming  chilled  the  more 
trouble  it  is  to  resuscitate  it.  A  lamb  that  has  been  chilled 
is  very  susceptible  to  constipation,  especially  after  being 
revived  by  the  warm  bath  treatment.  The  plan  that  has  in- 
variably given  me  the  most  satisfaction  has  been  to  wrap 
the  patient  in  warm  flannel,  place  it  near  the  stove  and  give 
it  a  little  warm  milk,  into  which  has  been  put  a  small  quan- 
tity of  gin.  If  at  any  time  after  being  revived  it  should 
appear  dull,  sleepy,  and  refuses  to  partake  of  nourishment, 
it  may  be  safe  to  say  that  it.  is  suffering  from  constipation. 
This  trouble  is  treated  upon  in  another  chapter. 


106  FITTING  SHEEP 

Wool  to  be  Clipped  from  the  Ewe's  Flanks  and  Udder. 

For  the  benefit  of  the  lamb  it  is  sometimes  found  beneficial 
and  even  necessary  to  remove  the  wool  from  the  flanks 
and  udder  of  some  ewes  before  allowing  it  to  take  the  teat, 
as  sometimes  its  eyes  become  seriously  damaged  by  the 
wool- getting  into  them.  Then  by  getting  into  its  mouth  it 
is  liable  to  cause  it  to  refuse  the  teat.  Just  at  what  time 
the  wool  should  be  cut  off  is  a  matter  on  which  shepherds 
differ,  many  claiming,  and  with  good  cause,  that  it  should 
not  be  done  when  the  ewes  are  in  an  advanced  stage  of 
pregnancy.  I  have  always  found  this  work  most  easily 
and  satisfactorily  accomplished  immediately  after*  the  ewe 
has  been  delivered  of  her  offspring,  but  not  yet  having  re- 
covered strength  sufficiently  to  object  to  the  operation. 
Care  must  be  exercised  that  the  udder  is  not  cut  while  the 
operation  is  being  performed,  or  serious  injury  may  result. 

How  to  Catch  a  Sheep. 

A  sheep  should  never  be  caught  by  its  wool.  This  method 
not  only  causes  the  animal  unnecessary  pain,  but  in  the  case 
of  fat  sheep,  that  are  to  be  killed,  it  does  much  harm  to 
ihe  joint  of  mutton  that  lies  underneath  where  the  wool  was 
pulled.  It  causes  a  dark  bruise  just  in  the  same  manner 
as  our  bodies  become  discolored  from  being  bruised. 

The  proper  way  to  catch  a  sheep  is  to  take  it  either  by 
the  hind  leg  just  above  the  gambrel  joint,  or  by  putting  the 
hand  underneath  its  jaw  or  neck.  In  using  a  crock  it  i^ 
important  that  the  sheep  are  not  caught  below  the  gambrel 
joint,  as  injury  to  the  leg  is  liable  to  result  from  this. 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  107 

Raising  a  Cosset. 

It  is  questionable  whether  the  raising  of  cosset  lambs  is 
a  profitable  undertaking  or  not.  That  they  are  a  consider- 
able responsibility  on  one's  hands  those  who  have  attempted 
to  raise  them  can  verify.  Unless  they  are  fed  very  often 
and  very  carefully  they  do  not  do  nearly  as  well  as  when 
raised  in  Nature's  own  way.  In  the  case  of  grade  lambs 
the  profit  from  raising  a  cosset  is  little — perhaps  nothing; 
but  in  the  case  of  pedigreed  sheep,  if  we  can  raise  a  good 
specimen,  it  is  no  doubt  a  profitable  undertaking. 

The  greatest  danger  to  be  averted  in  the  raising  of  a  pet 
or  cosset  lamb  is  the  over-feeding  of  same.  Little  and  often 
is  the  true  secret  in  feeding  a  cosset  where  success  in  raising 
it  is  considered.  Very  rich  milk  is  liable  to  cause  bowel 
trouble  with  the  youngster  the  first  week  or  so  of  its  life, 
unless  it  be  reduced  in  strength  to  a  suitable  degree.  Some 
cow's  milk  should  be  reduced  at  least  twenty-five  per  cent 
before  being  fed  to  a  lamb  under  ten  days  old,  but  as  the 
lamb  gets  older,  so  in  proportion  the  milk  may  be  fed 
stronger. 

It  is  in  the  counties  of  Somerset  and  Dorset  in  England 
where  cosset  lambs  are  raised  to  perfection.  There  many 
dairymen  make  it  a  rule  to  raise  a  score  or  so  of  Dorset 
lambs  each  Winter.  These  they  obtain  from  shepherds 
whose  ewes  sometimes  give  more  lambs  than  they  can  profit- 
ably take  care  of.  For  these  the  shepherd  usually  gets  a 
shilling — twenty-five  cents — or  more  a  head.  These  lambs 
are  usually  cared  for  by  the  dairymen's  wives  or  the  dairy- 
maidens,  and  that  they  are  well  taken  care  of  their  broad 
backs,  plump  bodies  and  beautiful  white  fleeces  fully  attest. 


108  FITTING  SHEEP 


The  best  instrument  to  raise  a  cosset  on  is  the  common 
nursing  bottle  used  in  feeding  babies. 

Marking  the  Lambs. 

It  is  always  advisable  that  we  have  some  means  of  identify- 
ing our  lambs  when  very  young,  then  should  any  happen  to- 
stray  away  from  their  pens  no  serious  trouble  presents  itself 
in  the  way  of  quickly  finding  them  and  returning  to  their 
mothers.  As  soon  as  the  new-born  lamb  is  perfectly  dry 
I  take  a  small  quantity  of  shepherd's  marking-ink  and  a  small 
pencil  brush,  and  with  this  mark  or  number  it  on  the  back 
with  the  corresponding  number  found  on  the  ear  tag  of  the 
ewe.  This  method  makes  it  a  very  easy  matter  to  keep  tab 
on  the  lambs  and  helps  to  form  a  close  acquaintanceship  with 
them.  It  is  not  advisable  to  insert  the  ear  tags  in  the  ears 
of  very  young  lambs,  as  the  cartilage  of  the  ear  is  soft,  and 
the  weight  of  the  tag  will  make  them  droop.  Marking 
the  lambs  in  this  way  makes  it  a  safe  and  easy  matter  to 
recognize  them  when  it  is  desired  to  ear  tag  them.  I  have 
found  it  necessary  to  mark  them  twice  before  ear  tagging, 
them,  for,  as  they  grow,  the  marks  seem  to  fade. 

Feeding  the  Lambs. 

Before  we  can  feed  lambs  properly  we  must  first  give 
consideration  to  what  purpose  we  are  feeding  them.  If  we 
are  fitting  them  for  the  block  the  treatment  must  be  some- 
what different  from  that  employed  in  raising  them  for  store 
purpose.  In  feeding  for  the  market,  or  block,  rations  of  a 
fattening  nature  should  be  fed,  and  a  neat,  plump  animal 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  109' 

should  be  sought  rather  than  one  of  strong  heavy  frame,, 
which  should  be  the  aim  of  the  shepherd  in  the  raising  of 
breeding  stock.  Where  lambs  are  fed  exceedingly  high  on 
fat-forming  rations  they  will  acquire  a  plump,  pretty  appear- 
ance, but  will  never  have  the  scale,  range  and  frame  that 
those  fed  on  rations  calculated  to  develop  the  frame  will. 

Since  I  have  treated  on  fattening  lambs  for  the  market 
elsewhere  in  this  work,  I  will  endeavor  to  describe  my 
method  in  feeding  lambs  that  are  intended  for  breeding 
purpose.  In  the  first  place  I  maintain  that  exercise  is  most- 
important  for  the  proper  development  of  the  frame  of  a 
lamb  whose  mission  in  life  is  to  propagate  its  species, 
whether  it  be  male  or  female.  They  should  not  be  closely 
penned  where  they  cannot  have  abundant  exercise  at  all 
times.  They  should  have  the  use  of  a  large  yard  in  which 
to  run  and  play  to  their  hearts'  content.  If  there  be  a  mound, 
or  pile  of  straw  or  something  of  that  kind  in  the  yard  on 
which  they  can  jump  and  play  it  will  aid  much  in  the  devel- 
opment of  a  muscular  and  otherwise  desirable  frame.  Give 
them  all  they  want  to  eat  and  they  will  grow  fast  and  keep  in 
fine  condition  no  matter  how  much  exercise  they  may  take. 
Now,  what  shall  we  feed  them  and  how  shall  we  feed  it,  is 
the  question.  Briefly,  if  we  have  been  thoughtful  enough  to 
provide  some  succulent  ration  for  them,  with  the  addition  of 
some  prime  clover  hay,  bran,  oats,  and  oil  meal,  and  feeding 
them  regularly  and  punctually  we  may  hope  to  develop  a 
frame  and  constitution  that  will  fit  them  for  the  battle  of  life. 
Then  we  must  not  forget  to  erect  a  lamb  creep  at  one  end 
of  the  barn  which  will  allow  of  their  getting  some  extra 
rations  without  molestation  from  the  ewes.  Salt,  of  course,, 
should  be  theirs  at  will. 


110        FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET. 
Baby  Pat. 

One  most  important  item  to  be  studied  in  the  raising  of 
really  good  lambs  is  to  keep  the  "baby"  fat  on  them  just  as 
long  as  is  possible.  A  lamb  that  loses  its  baby  fat  before 
.it  has  arrived  at  that  state  of  maturity  when  it  is  capable 
of  reproducing  its  own  species,  does  not  usually  amount 
to  much,  or,  in  other  words,  is  "stunted."  When  a  lamb 
that  is  well  fed  loses  its  baby  fat,  it  may  be  safe  to  say  it  is 
•suffering  from  worms  or  some  other  trouble  and  is  unsound. 
It  it  is  the  aim  of  the  shepherd  to  have  a  fine  flock  of  ewes, 
the  ewe  lambs  should  be  forced  for  the  first  year  of  their  lives 
-on  frame  and  muscle  producing  elements  "for  all  they  are 
worth."  After  they  are  a  year  old,  they  seem  to  be  able  to 
"rough  it"  and  hold  their  own  on  such  common  fare  as  the 
<ewe  flock  should  be  getting. 

Ram  lambs  should  be  treated  even  more  generously  than 
are  the  ewe  lambs,  and  for  a  longer  period;  especially  is 
this  true  of  stud  rams.  Although  stud  rams  should  be  fed 
generously  on  flesh  and  frame-forming  rations,  the  shepherd 
must  understand  what  these  are  and  not  feed  rations  of  a  fat- 
forming  nature  in  mistake  for  the  former.  Our  aim  should 
foe  to  feed  for  health,  strength,  flesh,  and  frame;  ample  fat 
•will  accumulate  from  this  mode  of  feeding  without  the  addi- 
tion of  any  fattening  grain  ration. 

Ear  Tagging. 

The  shepherd  should  not  be  too  anxious  in  getting  this 
-work  off  his  hands.  Sufficient  time  should  elapse  to  allow  the 
'cartilage  of  the  lamb's  ear  to  harden  before  attempting  to 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.     113 

insert  the  ear  tag  or  the  weight  of  it  will  cause  the  ear  to- 
droop. 

The  proper  way  to  put  the  tag  in  is  to  catch  your  lamb, 
seat  it  on  its  rump,  and  hold  it  between  your  legs;  both 
hands  are  then  free  to  handle  the  punch,  etc.,  in  performing 
the  operation.  The  breeder's  tag  should  be  inserted  in  the 
right  ear,  and  the  association  tag  in  the  other.  The  shepherd 
should  be  extremely  careful  that  he  keeps  a  true  and  honor- 
able record  of  the  pedigree  of  his  lambs,  or  he  will  not  only 
be  doing  an  injustice  to  the  association  which  champions 
the  breed  he  keeps,  but  he  will  also  lay  himself  open  to 
litigation. 

Weaning. 

In  weaning  his  lambs  it  is  necessary  that  the  shepherd 
should  have  forethought  in  preparing  suitable  succulent  pas- 
tures and  rich,  nourishing  foods  to  fill  the  place  and  loss  of 
the  lacteal  nourishment  caused  by  the  separation  of  the  ewes 
and  their  offspring.  This  means  untiring,  faithful  vigilance 
on  the  part  of  the  shepherd  who,  of  course,  will  see  that 
everything  possible  is  done  to  mitigate  the  suffering  of  the 
ewe  from  fever  and  inflammation  caused  by  the  presence  of 
pent-up  milk  in  her  udder.  A  little  care  given  at  this  time 
w.ill  no  doubt  often  be  the  means  of  saving  many  a  fine 
ewe  from  losing  a  part  or  the  whole  of  her  bag.  It  should  be 
remembered  that  it  is  very  rarely  that  a  poor  milker  gives 
much  trouble  from  this  cause. 

What  are  the  most  suitable  rations  for  the  newly  weaned 
lamb?  I  have  not,  as  yet,  found  anything  equal  to  the  second 
crop  of  clover.  Where  rations  of  a  highly  succulent  nature 
are  fed,  great  care  must  be  observed  or  we  may  experience 


114  FITTING  SHEEP 


great  loss  from  the  lambs  becoming  bloated.  The  method  I 
have  adopted  with  good  results  is  to  see  that  the  stomachs 
of  the  lambs  are  well  filled  with  their  ordinary  rations  before 
they  are  turned  into  the  rape  or  clover  field,  and  then  allow 
them  only  one  hour  at  first  to  appease  their  appetites.  While 
some  lambs  do  not  take  kindly  to  rape  others  will  eat  it  at 
once,  voraciously;  especially  is  this  the  case  where  they  and 
their  dams  have  been  fed  on  turnips  and  other  roots  during 
the  winter  or  spring  months.  During  a  dry  spell  is  the 
best  time  to  wean  the  lambs.  The  poorest  pasture  the  farm 
affords  is  the  best  for  the  benefit  of  the  ewe  until  her  milk 
is  dried  up. 

It  is  always  best  to  take  the  ewes  away  from  the  lambs, 
rather  than  the  lambs  away  from  the  ewes,  when  weaning 
them,  as  they  do  not  seem  to  fret  and  worry  nearly  as  much 
when  left  in  a  field  that  they  are  accustomed  to.  I  have 
found  good  results  from  putting  both  the  ewes  and  lambs 
together  in  the  weaning  field  for  an  hour  each  day  for  a  few 
days  previous  to  their  being  weaned;  the  ewes  will  then  not 
only  teach  the  lambs  to  eat  the  rape,  but  the  lambs  will  be- 
come more  reconciled  to  their  lot  after  becoming  familiar 
with  their  surroundings  than  if  the  ewes  are  taken  directly 
from  them.  The  proper  treatment  of  lambs  demands  that 
they  be  early  taught  to  eat  grain,  then,  when  the  weaning 
season  comes  along  no  difficulty  will  be  experienced  in  keep- 
ing them  ''booming." 

As  before  mentioned,  it  is  sound  policy  to  put  the  ewes 
out  of  the  hearing  of  the  lambs  and  on  poor  or  scanty  pasture 
for  the  first  week  after  weaning;  less  trouble  will  then  be 
experienced  in  regard  to  damaged  "bags,"  etc.  Should  a 
ewe's  udder  become  gorged  with  milk  and  it  is  apparent 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  115 

that  she  is  suffering  from  this  cause,  she  should  be  partially 
milked,  by  hand;  it  is  not  advisable  to  milk  her  clean,  as  this- 
will  only  tend  to  cause  a  normal  flow  of  milk. 

Castration. 

The  castration  of  lambs  is  a  very  simple  operation,  and 
when  properly  done  there  is  little  danger  if  any  of  loss 
following.  When  lambs  are  lost  it  is  usually  the  result  of  a 
bungling  operation  performed  by  a  bungling  operator.  I 
have  performed  the  operation  upon  many  thousands  of 
lambs,  and  indeed  all  classes  of  stock,  without  yet  having 
a  single  loss.  Where  cleanliness  and  dexterity  in  operating 
is  employed,  no  loss  should  follow.  The  greatest  danger 
arising  from  castrating  is  where  the  animal  is  ruptured.  This 
state  of  things,  however,  is  very  seldom  found  among  lambs. 
The  proper  time  to  castrate  lambs  is  when  they  are  about 
three  days  old. 

An  up  to  date  shepherd  can  castrate  his  lambs  without 
the  assistance  of  an  attendant.  In  the  Old  Country  shepherds 
usually  perform  the  operation  in  the  following  manner:  The 
lamb  is  caught  and  placed  on  its  left  side  upon  the  ground. 
The  operator  then  kneels  down  and  presses  the  lamb  against 
his  knees  and  keeps  it  in  position  with  his  elbows;  by  thus 
doing  both  hands  are  left  free  to  handle  the  knife,  hold  the 
scrotum,  etc.  The  operator  then  takes  his  knife  and  cuts  the 
top  of  the  scrotum  clean  off,  leaving  both  testicles  exposed 
to  view;  then,  after  squeezing  them  out  of  the  scrotum,  or 
sac,  he  grips  them  one  at  a  time  with  his  teeth  and  pulls 
them  out.  Care  should  be  taken  that  the  lining  membrane 
be  cut  off  at  the  same  time  the  top  of  sac  is  removed. 


116 


FITTING  SHEEP 


This  way  of  castrating  may  appear  a  little  revolting  to 
people  of  a  sentimental  temperament,  but  in  reality  it  is  not 
so,  as  nothing  but  the  teeth  need  touch  the  testicles  in  per- 
forming the  operation.  This  method  is  the  very  best  that 
can  be  employed  where  the  shepherd  has  to  perform  the 
operation  without  the  help  of  an  assistant. 

Many  advise  cutting  off  the  whole  scrotum  and  contents 
with  a  pair  of  keen  shears.  This  mode  has  several  drawbacks. 


CLAMPS  USED  IN  CASTRATING. 


In  the  first  place,  it  is  plainly  evident,  from  the  stiff  way  in 
which  the  lambs  walk  the  first  few  days  after  being  operated 
upon,  that  this  method  is  a  somewhat  cruel  one,  as  it  causes 
much  pain.  Then  again  too  much  of  the  scrotum  is  usually 
•cut  off  by  this  method  to  allow  of  the  animal  being  really 
a  symmetrical  one,  from  a  butcher's  standpoint.  As  with  a 
steer,  a  wether  lamb  should  be  left  with  as  large  a  sac  or 
"cod"  as  possible,  for  when  this  is  well  filled  with  fat  it 
not  only  dresses  better  but  is  somewhat  of  a  criterion  of  the 
•quality  of  the  lamb. 

The  use  of  antiseptics  in  conjunction  with  the  operation 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  117 

is  no  doubt  very  useful,  but  I  have  never  employed  any  in 
the  case  of  the  castration  of  very  young  lambs;  I  have  never 
'found  such  a  course  necessary. 

In  the  castration  of  aged  rams,  clamps  should  be  used,  the 
use  of  which  will  prevent  excessive  bleeding.  Clamps  may 
be  made  of  wood,  and  will  answer  the  purpose  intended 
equally  as  well  as  the  more  expensive  steel  ones.  The  ac- 
companying engraving  or  cut  will  give  a  pretty  clear  idea 
of  how  to  make  a  pair  of  wooden  clamps.  Elder  or  hazel 
wood  is  generally  used  for  this  purpose,  but  any  hard  wood 
of  a  non-poisonous  nature  will  answer  equally  as  well. 

Of  course,  in  castrating  aged  rams  it  is  necessary  to  tie 
the  animal's  legs  to  prevent  struggling  and  to  facilitate  ease 
in  performing  the  operation.  Where  an  assistant  is  available, 
in  the  castration  of  young  lambs  the  testicles  can  be  pulled 
out  with  the  fingers  and  thumb,  but  the  testicles  are  more 
often  smashed  by  this  method  than  by  grasping  with  the 
teeth.  In  any  case  the  testicle  should  be  taken  hold  of  well 
down  toward  the  small  part  of  the  spermatic  cord,  and  in  the 
case  of  bursting  a  testicle  it  should  be  seen  that  the  cord  is 
entirely  removed  or  the  chances  are  that  it  will  cause  sup- 
puration. This  is  one  objection  to  the  cutting  off  of  the 
whole  of  the  scrotum  and  its  contents.  In  England  pincers 
with  rubber  jaws  are  used  to  draw  the  testicles,  and  they 
are  no  doubt  a  very  valuable  addition  to  the  shepherd's  outfit. 

In  castrating  an  aged  ram  his  legs  should  be  secured 
with  a  rope;  this  being  done,  get  your  searing  irons  ready  for 
use  by  heating  them  to  a  dark  red  heat;  then  take  the  top 
of  the  scrotum  off  with  your  knife  and  apply  clamps  securely 
to  spermatic  cord,  well  below  the  testicle;  then  cut  the  testicle 
off  and  sear  the  cord  with  the  hot  iron,  treating  one  testicle 


118  FITTING  SHEEP 


at  a  time.  If  the  searing  iron  is  dipped  in  lard  in  which 
a  little  verdigris  is  mixed  danger  from  inflammation  follow- 
ing the  operation  is  limited.  A  little  of  the  mixture  when 
melted,  but  not  too  hot,  poured  into  the  scrotum  has  a 
beneficial  effect.  Usually  aged  rams  get  very  stiff  after  being 
castrated;  this  condition,  however,  soon  passes  away. 

When  aged  rams  or  lambs  are  castrated  during  hot  weather 
tar  should  be  smeared  over  the  wound  to  prevent  the  flies, 
from  attacking  it. 

Docking. 

The  most  favorable  time  for  docking  lambs  is  when  about 
six  days  old.  The  danger  from  shock  and  excessive  bleeding 
is  then  very  slight.  I  have  never  performed  the  operation 
with  anything  but  a  common  jack-knife,  or  a  butcher's  knife. 

In  performing  the  operation  unassisted,  the  operator  holds 
the  lamb  between  his  legs,  in  a  standing  position,  and  after 
pushing  the  skin  df  the  tail  well  up  towards  the  vent,  with, 
one  quick,  clean  cut  the  tail  is  severed. 

Of  course,  the  operation  can  be  more  satisfactorily  per- 
formed by  having  attendants  catch  and  hold  the  lambs  during; 
the  operation. 

In  docking  old  sheep  a  piece  of  twine  should  be  tied 
tightly  around  the  tail  at  a  point  immediately  above  where 
it  is  intended  to  cut  it  off.  This  prevents  excessive  bleed- 
ing. After  the  elapse  of  a  few  hours  the  twine  should  be 
taken  off.  If  the  weather  is  warm  and  damp,  flies  are  liable 
to  bother  the  wounds.  To  prevent  this,  smear  tar  on  the 
wound. 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  119 

Maggots. 

Considerable  loss  is  sometimes  caused  in  the  flock  by 
maggots.  As  is  known  among  sheepmen  generally,  when 
the  egg  of  the  blow-fly  is  once  laid  in  suitable  places,  such 
as  in  the  filthy  tag-locks  of  ill-cared  for  sheep,  newly  cas- 
trated and  newly  docked  lambs,  during  the  early  summer 
months,  it  does  not  take  long  before  the  unfortunate  animal 
is  being  literally  eaten  alive  by  this  terrible  pest.  Happily 
American  shepherds  know  but  little  regarding*  this  trouble 
as  compared  to  the  troubles  of  shepherds  in  England.  There, 
during  several  months  of  the  year,  they  have  to  use  the  ut- 
most vigilance  or  their,  flocks  would  suffer  terribly  from  the 
ravages  of  this  insidious  foe.  I  have  always  considered 
that  sheep  in  the  Old  Country  carry  considerably  more 
greasy  or  yolky  fleeces  than,  or  ordinarily  do,  sheep  in  this 
country;  and  coupled  with  this,  the  humidity  of  the  climate 
and  prevalent  rains,  conditions  are  more  favorable  to  the 
interest  of  the  blow-fly  there  than  are  the  conditions  of  this 
country. 

It  is  not  always  in  wounds  or  tag-locks  that  the  blow-fly 
deposits  its  eggs,  as  sometimes  they  are  found,  especially 
during  hot,  stormy  weather,  deposited  on  the  rump  and  back 
of  the  shoulder,  where  they  quickly  hatch,  and  commence 
to  eat  the  poor,  unfortunate  brute. 

Lambs  usually  suffer  more  from  the  attacks  of  the  blow-fly 
than  do  mature  sheep;  their  fleeces  seem  to  offer  more  favor- 
able conditions  for  the  deposit  of  its  eggs. 

When  a  sheep  is  troubled  with  maggots  it  becomes  very 
restless  and  wiggles  its  tail  very  much,  as  does  a  lamb  when 
partaking  of  nourishment  from  its  dam.  Immediately  upon 


120        FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET. 

symptoms  of  maggots  appearing,  the  shepherd  should  make 
a  thorough  examination  of  the  victim,  and  use  such  means 
as  will  prevent  the  maggots  from  spreading  over  the  body, 
which,  if  neglected,  will  most  assuredly  result  in  the  death 
of1  the  poor  animal.  As  soon  as  the  pest  is  located,  the  wool 
should  be  shorn. off  the  infested  spot,  the  maggots  picked  out, 
the  wound  washed  and  anointed  with  zinc  ointment,  Where 
the  sheep  has  been  unnoticed  for  any  length  of  time  or  other- 
wise neglected,  and  the  maggots,  in  great  numbers,  having- 
had  the  opportunity  of  pervading  a  large  territory,  more 
stringent  measures  must  be  adopted.  Alcohol  and  sassafras 
mixed  and  rubbed  over  the  spot  the  maggots  have  taken 
possession  of  will  drive  them  out  in  a  hurry;  but  I  think 
it  far  preferable  to  pick  or  scrape  them  out  and  destroy  them, 
for  if  left  alive  they  may  seek  other  hunting  grounds  on  the 
same  animal. 

In  the  case  of  maggots  finding  their  way  into  the  scrotum 
of  newly  castrated  lambs,  care  must  be  observed  that  every 
one  be  removed,  or  the  chances  are  that  the  animal  will 
die.  Sometimes  they  will  bury  themselves  so  deep  in  the 
flesh  as  to  be  overlooked  by  even  old  experienced  shep- 
herds. Turpentine  and  sweet  oil  poured  into  the  wound 
will  sometimes  dislodge  them,  but  generally  when  they  have 
once  buried  themselves  in  this  locality  the  lamb  is  lost,  as 
they  usually  find  their  way  to  the  bowels. 

Where  the  shepherd  is  a  careful  and  keen  observer  no 
great  loss  or  inconvenience  need  be  experienced  in  this  coun- 
try from  the  attacks  of  the  maggot.  When  ewes  and  lambs 
are  thoroughly  dipped  in  some  good  standard  dip,  just  after 
shearing,  the  maggot  is  not  usually  found  to  give  much 
trouble. 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.      123 

Breeding  of  Ewe  Lambs. 

Whether  the  breeding  of  ewe  lambs  is  advisable  or  profit- 
able depends  much  on  the  breed  of  sheep,  the  farm  on  which 
they  are  raised,  the  kind  of  food  to  be  procured,  and  last, 
but  not  least,  the  shepherd  in  charge. 

The  Hampshire,  one  of  our  best  known  Down  breeds, 
has  proved  itself  par  excellence  the  most  precocious  of  all 
breeds.  To  illustrate  what  I  say  I  will  quote  from  an  article 
from  my  own  pen  that  appeared  in  Wool  Markets  and  Sheep 
regarding  the  subject.  'The  question  of  the  prudence  and 
profit  of  breeding  from  ewe  lambs  is  a  somewhat  mooted  one, 
and  while  some  who  have  experimented  along  such  lines, 
undoubtedly  with  a  flock  lacking  in  the  desirable  precocious 
and  prolific  instincts  of  some  well  known  breeds;  or,  per- 
haps, with  land  minus  certain  desirable  and  indispensable 
chemical  qualities,  or  not  unlikely  lacking  the  necessary  abil- 
ities to  successfully  handle  such  a  flock,  will  tell  us  that 
nothing  but  a  disastrous  issue  confronts  us;  on  the  other  hand 
we  are  met  by  men  who  have  delved  deep  down  into  the 
-depths  of  science,  and  with  Darwin  tell  us  of  what  seem  to 
us  almost  impossibilities. 

"The  day  has  been — and  is  to-day — when  it  was  thought 
that  sheep  only  of  certain  breeds  would  do  on  certain  kinds 
of  land.  Now,  in  these  days  of  the  ripening  of  science  and 
rapid  progress  what  are  we  to  do?  Are  we  to  get  a  breed 
of  sheep  exactly  suited  to  the  conditions  and  quality  of  the 
land,  or  are  we,  with  improved  draining  facilities  and  highly 
valuable  chemical  manures,  to  condition  our  land  to  our 
flocks? 

"I    contend,   and   with    facts   and   figures   wish   to   clearly 


124  FITTING  SHEEP 


demonstrate,  that  where  breed,  feeding  and  some  of  the 
higher  laws  of  nature  are  carefully  considered  and  adhered 
to,  that  breeding  from  ewe  lambs  is  not  only  profitable,  but 
in  many  instances  very  desirable;  in  fact,  I  have  so  pinned 
my  faith  to  such  a  course  of  procedure  that  my  experiments 
will  tend  in  this  direction  the  coming  breeding  season.  Now, 
brother  shepherds,  I  am  not  taking  the  stand  to  tell  you  that 
taking  a  bunch  of  ewe  lambs — promiscuously — and  breeding 
them  will  put  you  on  the  road  to  wealth;  neither  am  I  telling 
you  to  take  any  of  our  modern  improved  breeds  and  expect 
to  strike  a  Klondike  right  off.  Oh,  no!  But  I  want  to 
tell  you  that  there  is  a  breed  of  sheep  that  will,  as  lambs, 
produce  offspring  that  in  mutton  qualities  or  heavy-weights 
vie  with  any  that  may  be  produced  from  ewes  at  any  given, 
age.  It  is  the  Hampshire. 

"When  in  the  year  1760,  Bakewell,  who  was  undoubtedly 
the  father  of  the  flockmaster — commenced  his  improvements 
of  live  stock,  did  he  think  he  would  be  followed  by  sons  of 
such  high  intellectual  order  or  standing  as  are  our  flock- 
masters  of  to-day?  To  make  my  subject  anything  approach- 
ing completeness  I  must  introduce  one  of  the  greatest 
flockmasters  of  the  day — De  Mornay — who  has  given  us 
the  benefit  of  his  experiments,  and  the  most  valuable  proofs 
of  the  reasonableness  of  breeding  from  ewe  lambs.  He  it  is 
who  tells  us  that  the  development  of  constitution  and  mus- 
cular form  does  not  take  so  long  a  time  to  effect  as  does 
the  procreative  system.  To  alter  habit  and  fix  an  instinct 
of  precocity  requires  a  long  and  persistent  effort  on  the  part 
of  the  breeder  in  the  selection  of  the  most  precocious  of  both 
sexes  without  interruption  for  many  years,  supplying  them 
at  the  same  time  with  an  appropriate  and  liberal  diet.' 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  125 

"Read  what  he  tells  us  about  early  maturity.  He  says:  'A 
ram  (Hampshire)  lamb  was  put  in  with  the  flock  of  170  ewe 
lambs  on  October  5.  In  March  and  April  they  gave  birth 
to  153  lambs,  several  being  twins,  one  of  which  was  saved 
for  a  ram.  They  were  all  good,  well-made  lambs,  easily 
reared  by  their  young  mothers,  and  with  very  little  more 
attention  than  it  was  necessary  to  bestow  on  the  principal 
flock.'  He  then  goes  on  to  tell  us  that,  'A  ram  lamb  was 
turned  into  only  fifty  of  the  ewe  lambs  on  September  10, 
the  lambs  then  being  only  seven  months  old,  and  they 
gave  birth  in  February  and  March  to  55  strong  lambs, 
without  the  loss  of  a  single  lamb.  The  following 
year  these  50  lambs,  being  two-tooth  sheep,  gave  birth  to  60 
fine  lambs,  some  of  which  weighed  15  pounds  on  the  day 
they  were  born.  They  lambed  easier  than  the  two-tooths, 
which  had  not  lambed  when  they  were  tegs.  There  were 
reared  in  four  consecutive  years  506  teg  lambs/ 

"The  most  remarkable  proof  of  the  early  maturing  proper- 
ties and  the  fecundity  of  the  Hampshire  can  be  gathered 
upon  again  referring  to  Mr.  De  Mornay's  report:  Three 
ewes,  each  having  two  lambs  by  their  side,  were  bred  to  one 
of  the  rams  in  the  flock  which  could  not  have  been  more 
than  three  months  old,  and  the  three  ewes  gave  birth  to  six 
more  lambs  in  August,  one  having  three  lambs.'  He  also 
mentions  a  ewe  which  gave  birth  to  two  lambs  in  the  month 
of  January.  She  lambed  again  early  in  July,  when  she  gave 
birth  to  two  more  lambs,  and  in  the  January  following  she 
had  again  two  'lambs,  making  in  all  six  lambs  dropped  by  this 
ewe  within  a  year.  The  produce  (one  year's)  from  this  indi- 
vidual ewe  realized  $125,  leaving  one  yet  unsold. 

"Undoubtedly  the  Hampshire  ewe  lamb,  on  account  of  her 


FITTING  SHEEP 


precocity  and  fecundity,  can  be  profitably  bred  without  the 
least  ill  effects,  provided  the  food  and  care  supplied  is  of  the 
right  standard.  As  far  as  constitution  goes,  nothing  need  be 
feared." 

Using  Ram  Lambs. 

The  Hampshire  breeders  of  England  almost  invariably  use 
ram  lambs  as  sires  in  their  flocks,  and  the  plan  is  found  to 
give  good  results.  But  the  Hampshire  is  an  exceedingly  ro- 
bust animal  and,  as  is  well  known,  is  a  very  precocious  and 
very  early  maturing  sheep.  I  have  made  experiment  in  using 
Shropshire  ram  lambs,  as  sires,  but  for  more  reasons  than 
one  I  prefer  a  yearling  for  service,  and  I  cannot  with  any 
degree  of  confidence  recommend  the  using  of  ram  lambs 
generally. 

Breeding  of  Dorsets  Twice  a  Year. 

It  is  an  undeniable  truth  that  Dorsets  will  breed  twice 
in  one  year.  I  have,  since  being  in  this  country,  bred  a  Dor- 
set ewe  flock  when  the  lambs  have  been  suckling  their  dams. 
But  this  course  is  disastrous  to  the  flock,  and  therefore  no 
benefit  to  the  flockmaster,  the  lambs  being  appreciably 
smaller,  and  the  ewe  considerably  harmed  by  such  methods. 
The  lambs  in  question  showed  unmistakable  evidence  of 
weakened  constitutions,  were  badly  attacked  by  the 
stomach  worm,  and  otherwise  showed  themselves  to  be  unde- 
sirable property.  Although  we  undoubtedly  get  a  great  num- 
ber of  lambs  from  this  method,  it  is  extremely  doubtful  if  we 
get  as  many  dollars  as  when  the  ewes  are  bred  once  only 
in  a  year, 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  127 

The  Period  of  Gestation  in  Ewes. 

Of  all  our  domestic  animals  none,  perhaps,  are  more  ir- 
regular as  to  time  in  bringing  forth  their  offspring  than  is 
the  ewe.  The  normal  period  of  gestation  of  the  ewe  is  145 
days,  but  rarely  do  we  find  one  punctual  in  this  respect. 
Experience  has  taught  me  that  sometimes  where  ewes  are 
served  on  the  same  day  they  vary  considerably  as  to  the  time 
when  they  lamb.  Sometimes  we  find  them  lambing  a  week 
before  the  normal  period,  while  at  other  times  we  find  them 
going  a  full  week  over  this  period.  Lambs  that  are  born 
twelve  days  previous  to  the  expiration  of  the  normal  period 
of  gestation  rarely  survive  more  than  a  few  hours  at  most, 
if  at  all,  after  birth. 

The  period  of  heat  in  ewes  generally  commences,  in  this 
country,  in  the  month  of  September;  in  England  it  com- 
mences much  earlier  in  the  season,  in  fact  it  seems  that  the 
ewe  will  take  the  ram  in  that  country  almost  at  any  time 
when  not  actually  in  lamb.  Climatic  influence  has,  no 
doubt,  much  to  do  with  this. 

How  to  Tell  a  Sheep's  Age. 

Most  shepherds  can  generally  tell  the  age  of  a  sheep  pretty 
correctly  without  examination  of  teeth,  or  in  other  words, 
from  its  general  appearance,  whilst  many  just  entering  into 
the  sheep  business  have  but  a  very  slight  idea  of  how  to 
tell  the  age  of  a  sheep.  Sheep,  like  other  ruminants,  have 
eight  incisors.  These  are  all  in  the  under  jaw.  In  place  of 
incisor  teeth  on  the  upper  jaw,  a  tough  pad  is  provided,  called 
the  dental'  pad,  which  serves  the  place  of  teeth.  Sheep  have 


128  FITTING  SHEEP 


32  teeth  altogether,  24  molars  or  grinders,  and,  as  before 
said,  8  incisors. 

A  sheep's  age  under  one  year  old  is  easily  distinguished 
by  its  teeth,  there  being  a  full  set  of  "milk"  or  "sucking" 
teeth.  At  a  year  old  the  two  central  incisors  appear.  These 
are  much  larger  and  stronger  than  the  milk  teeth. 

Many  men,  both  shepherds  and  others,  will  tell  you  a 
two-year-old  sheep  does  not  get  his  second  addition  to  the 
permanent  incisors  before  it  arrives  at  two  years  old.  I  have 
almost  invariably  found  that  these  appear  at  about  21  months 
old,  and  at  30  months  the  third  pair  of  permanent  incisors 
have  come.  After  sheep  have  all  their  incisors,  or  become 
"full-mouthed,"  the  age  must  be  determined  by  other  signs, 
such  as:  Hollowness  of  the  loin,  width  of  nostril,  size  of 
belly,  "broken  mouth,"  etc. 

Tagging. 

Tagging,  in  the  shepherd's  vernacular,  means  cutting  off 
the  dirty  wool  or  tag-locks  sometimes  found  adhering  to  the 
stern  of  the  sheep,  especially  during  the  early  Spring  months, 
just  previous  to  shearing  time.  Tagging  should  be  attended 
to,  not  at  any  set  or  specified  time,  but  just  as  soon  as  a 
sheep  is  seen  to  be  filthy.  To  allow  a  sheep  to  go  in  a  filthy 
state  when  it  should  be  tagged  oftentimes  is  the  cause  of 
trouble  from  maggots.  The  blow-fly  deposits  its  eggs  there 
and  the  first  thing  we  know  the  poor  animal  is  literally  alive 
with  maggots,  and  without  prompt  attention  and  treatment 
there  will  be  a  death  in  the  flock  to  record. 

When  tagging  a  sheep  lay  it  on  its  side  and  with  a  keen 
pair  of  shears  cut  the  dirty  wool  off.  Where  the  manure  has 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  129 


been  allowed  to  accumulate  for  any  considerable  period,  and 
allowed  to  become  dry  and  hard  a  keen  knife  is  the  best 
instrument  to  remove  the  tags;  of  course  care  being  observed 
that  the  skin  is  not. cut.  In  cold  weather  sheep  should  not 
be  tagged  too  closely.  Usually,  unless  where  succulent  ra- 
tions are  in  abundance,  tagging  is  not  often  necessary  dur- 
ing the  Winter. 

How  to  Drench  a  Sheep. 

There  would  be  very  few  cases  of  choking  sheep  to  death 
if  we  would  only  take  the  trouble  to  study  the  anatomy  of 
the  animal  for  a  few  moments.  Upon  opening  the  neck  of  a 
sheep,  by  cutting  from  at  a  point  near  the  breast  toward 
the  under  jaw,  as  the  sheep  lays  on  its  back,  we  first  notice 
the  windpipe.  Next  to  this  comes,  or  is  exposed  to  view, 
rather,  the  gullet,  or  pipe  by  which  the  food  is  carried  to 
the  stomach.  Now  the  reason  why  sheep  are  sometimes 
choked  to  death  while  being  drenched  by  the  novice,  is,  that 
he  does  not  fully  understand  the  construction  and  disposition 
of  these  important  organs. 

Quite  often,  when  in  the  act  of  drenching  a  sheep,  the 
young  shepherd  fails  to  keep  the  mouth  of  the  drenching 
bottle,  or  drenching  horn,  as  the  case  may  be,  high  enough 
up  toward  the  roof  of  the  animal's  mouth,  and  the  conse- 
quence is  some  of  the  dose  or  drench  finds  its  way  into  the 
windpipe  and  death  results.  If,  when  the  young  shepherd 
happens  to  have  a  sheep  die,  he  would  only  take  the  trouble 
to  open  it  and  make  a  careful  study  of  its  anatomy,  we  would 
hear  of  less  loss  from  drenching  and  other  minor  troubles 
that  are  ever  occurring  to  worry  the  young  enthusiast. 


130  FITTING  SHEEP 


Dipping. 

A  few  dollars  spent  in  a  dipping  apparatus,  a  few  more 
spent  in  the  purchasing  of  some  reliable  standard  dip  is  one  of 
the  most  profitable  investments  a  shepherd  can  make.  No 
flock  can  possibly  thrive  when  covered  with  vermin.  While 
well-fed  flocks  are  not  usually  found  to  be  badly  infested  with 
ticks,  lice,  etc.,  as  are  the  half-starved,  poorly-ted  ones,  it 
is  sound  policy  to  dip  all  flocks  at  least  once  a  year,  twice 
being  preferable.  Sheep  that  are  intended  to  be  dipped 
should  be  fasted  a  few  hours  previous  to  the  work  being 
done,  as  it  not  only  makes  it  easier  to  handle  them  but  lessens 
the  danger  of  causing  them  internal  injury.  The  best  time 
to  dip  is  just  after  shearing,  and  again  in  October.  Every 
sheep  should  remain  in  the  dipping  trough  at  least  one 
minute;  when  actually  timed  the  operator  will  think  one  min- 
ute a  long  time  and  will  feel  like  curtailing  it;  but,  he  should 
remember  that  "what  is  worth  doing  is  worth  doing  well," 
and  that  the  last  half  of  the  minute  is  doing  the  greatest 
good. 

On  every  sheep  farm  the  dipping  pens,  vat,  and  yard  should 
be  a  permanent  plant.  There  should  be  a  pen  for  holding 
the  sheep  previous  to  dipping,  one  for  holding  them  after 
having  passed  through  the  dipping  vat,  and  draining  pen, 
as  they  should  not  be  allowed  to  wander  over  the  pasture  lots 
directly  after  being  dipped,  especially  when  the  dip  used  is  of 
a  poisonous  nature. 

A  dipping  plant  need  not  be  a  costly  affair.  Any  one 
handy  with  carpentering  tools  can  make  one  that  will  answer 
all  the  intents  and  purposes  of  the  farmer  or  flockmaster 
owning  a  flock  of,  say,  not  over  500  head  of  sheep.  As 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  131 

before  intimated  it  is  always  advisable  to  dip  twice  a  year, 
dip  with  the  idea  of  prevention  rather  than  that  of  cure.  Dip 
with  some  standard  dip.  It  is  more  economical,  reliable,  and 
beneficial  than  any  decoction  of  lime  and  sulphur. 

For  the  accompanying  illustrated  description  of  how  to 
make  a  cheap  and  serviceable  dipping  tank,  the  author's 
thanks  are  due  to  Mr.  W.  Vestal  of  Plainfield,  Ind.,  by  whom 
it  was  kindly  supplied.  Some  time  ago  there  was  offered  a 
silver  cup  valued  at  $100  for  the  best  plan  and  description 
of  a  cheap  and  serviceable  dipping  tank  that  would  meet 
the  requirements  of  those  keeping  a  small  flock  of  sheep. 
Mr.  Vestal  was  the  lucky  winner  of  this  valuable  trophy. 

Here  is  the  description  of  the  Vestal  dipping  tank  in 
the  inventor's  own  words: 

"We  have  a  dipping  outfit  which  I  made  and  which  any 
farmer  can  make  at  small  cost,  and  it  answers  the  purpose. 
Two  men,  one  on  each  side  of  the  vat,  and  our  little  nine- 
year-old  Willie  to  keep  the  sheep  massed  in  the  chute,  will 
handle  them  at  the  rate  of  about  one  sheep  every  four  or 
five  minutes,  and  that  will  allow  the  sheep  to  remain  in  the 
dip  two  minutes,  "bv  the  watch,"  and  should  not  be 
guessed  at. 

To  make  the  dipping-vat  use  2x4  stuff;  cut  eight  pieces  ^ 
feet  2  inches  long,  and  four  pieces  20  inches  long,  and  frame 
by  halving  together,  as  shown  in  Figs.  I  and  2.  Now  take 
the  four  frames  and  set  them  on  a  level  floor,  and  nail  tem- 
porary strips  on  the  outside  to  keep  them  in  position.  Use 
first-class  flooring  for  sides  and  ends;  paint  tongues  and 
groove,  as  you  put  them  on;  commence  at  the  bottom, 
grooved  side  down  (plain  the  groove  off  the  first  boards), 
and  build  up,  letting  the  ends  extend  past  the  posts  at  each 


132 


FITTING  SHEEP 


end  so  that  they  may  be  sawed  off  afterwards  to  insure  a 
good  joint  at  the  corners.  The  bottom  should  be  1^x6 
inches,  with  the  edges  beveled  to  correspond  with  the  flare 


of  the  sides.  Draw  down  with  $£  bolts  and  nail  the  side 
planks  to  the  edge  of  bottom  board,  and  you  will  have  a 
water-tight  joint.  Now,  after  sawing  the  side  planks  flush 
with  the  outside  of  end  posts,  seal  up  ends  on  outside  of 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  133 

posts.  Paint  the  inside  thoroughly,  and  you  will  have  a 
water-tight  box.  You  can  nail  quarter-round  in  the  corners 
if  necessary,  but  ours  has  none,  and  does  not  leak,  and  has 
been  in  use  for  three  years.  I  like  the  dipping-vat  8  feet  long, 
so  as  to  allow  an  incline  for  sheep  to  walk  out  on.  They 
will  climb  out  with  little  assistance  if  so  arranged.  We  have 
a  small  tackle  hung  near  the  exit  end  of  the  vat,  so  that  in 
handling  very  heavy  sheep  we  have  a  saddle  girth,  with  ring 
on  each  end,  which  we  put  under  the  sheep  behind  the  fore- 
legs, hook  the  tackle  into  the  rings,  and  one  man  will  easily 
lift  a  300  pound  sheep,  but  we  seldom  use  the  tackle,  as  the 
sheep  naturally  walk  out  with  little  assistance,  and  300  pound 
sheep  are  very  scarce  with  us.  We  have  not  succeeded  in 
raising  many  of  that  kind.  We  let  the  vat  into  the  ground 
two  feet,  so  the  top  stands  two  feet  above  the  surface.  Bore 
an  inch  hole  in  bottom  to  drain  off  liquid — one  inch — so  that 
it  may  be  stopped  with  a  corn  cob;  bury  an  old  box  or  barrel 
.a  short  distance  from  the  vat,  and  make  a  drain  from  the 
hole  in  the  vat  to  it,  and  there  will  be  no  danger  of  chickens 
or  other  stock  drinking  it. 

In  Fig.  3  I  have  tried  to  give  an  inside  view  of  the  vat, 
and  in  Fig.  4  a  side  elevation  before  being  let  into  the 
ground  or  floor.  From  the  exit  end  of  the  vat,  extends  the 
draining  table,  which  should  be  about  4  feet  wide  and  of  any 
desired  length,  with  the  outer  end  elevated  so  as  to  drain 
back  into  the  vat  with  a  strainer  to  catch  any  filth  that  might 
accumulate  on  the  table. 

I  will  endeavor  to  illustrate  in  Figs.  5  and  6  how  to  build 
the  draining-table.  Use  for  sills  2x6  inch  at  intervals  of  2 
feet  to  nail  the  floor  to.  Say  you  make  the  first  section  14 
feet;  you  can  let  the  next  lap  on  the  first  and  extend  as  far 


134 


FITTING  SHEEP 


as  you  desire.  Shape  the  sills  as  shown  in  Fig.  5,  and  regulate 
the  pitch  by  the  length  of  the  legs  as  shown  in  Fig.  6.  Set 
the  sills  in  line,  nail  temporary  strips  on  each  end  to  hold 
in  position  and  proceed  to  floor,  taking  care  to  paint  well 
the  tongues  and  grooves,  and  when  done  give  two  good 
coats  of  paint  to  prevent  shrinking  and  swelling.  The  legs 


DIAGRAM  OF  DIPPING  PLANT. 

may  extend  upward  for  posts  to  nail  planks  to  to  prevent 
the  sheep  jumping  off,  a  small  gate  or  bar  at  the  end  to 
let  them  out  when  they  cease  to  drip  completes  the  draining- 
table.  Fig.  7  shows  draining  surface  of  the  table.  We  find 
14  feet  of  draining-table  is  sufficient  for  our  use. 

We  do  not  consider  it  any  great  job  to  dip  our  little  flock 
of  loo  to  150  sheep." 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  135 

The  Shearing  of  Stud  Flocks. 

One  of  the  most  important  items  connected  with  the  man- 
agement of  stud  flocks,  and  one  which  is  too  often  ignored 
by  shepherds  and  .flockmasters  alike,  is  that  of  skillful  and 
artistic  shearing.  To  add  beauty  and  luster  to  a  flock  means 
a  substantial  addition  to  the  exchequer.  What  detracts  more 
from  the  beauty  of  a  fine  stud  flock,  or  pains  the  heart  of  the 
expert  shepherd  more  than  that  of  unartistic,  unsystematic 
shearing?  In  the  shearing  of  our  fine  stud  flocks,  there 
should  be  among  us  an  established  style,  or  system,  as  there 
is  in  the  old  country  among  the  great  flockmasters,  who  are 
as  particular  and  conservative  in  regard  to  the  style  in  which 
their  sheep  are  shorn  as  is  the  American  in  regard  to  how  his 
lawn  is  mown.  A  sheep  having  passed  through  the  hands 
of  an  adept  in  the  art  of  shearing,  is  usually  as  one  having 
been  turned  out  of  a  mould,  or  shorn  after  a  prepared  pat- 
tern— it  is,  indeed,  "a  thing  of  beauty,"  as  compared  to  that 
having  passed  through  the  hands  of  one  having  no  taste,  no 
style,  or  system  in  his  work. 

As  before  mentioned,  old  country  flockmasters  are  invaria- 
bly most  particular  in  regard  to  the  manner  in  which  their 
flocks  are  shorn.  They  insist  upon  style,  method  and  system; 
every  animal  must  be  a  counterpart  of  each  other  as  regard 
the  correctness  and  disposition  of  the  lines  and  curves  made 
by  the  shears  during  the  process  of  shearing.  Every  line 
must  be  parallel  to  each  other,  or  there  is  "kicking."  The 
shearers'  motto  is  "not  how  many,  but  how  good."  Shearers 
who  shirk  or  wander  from  this  text  usually  find,  like  Othello, 
their  occupation  gone.  To  cut  and  slash,  promiscuously, 
here,  there  and  everywhere  in  the  endeavor  to  remove  the 
fleece  as  rapidly  as  possible  receives  no  countenance  in  the 


136  FITTING  SHEEP 


"tight  little  island."  Cuts  must  be  conspicuous  only  by  their 
absence.  Shearing  is  not,  as  is  sometimes  erroneously  sup- 
posed by  many  flockmasters  of  this  country,  usually  done  by 
shepherds,  but  by  gangs  of  professional  shearers,  whose  neat 
and  artistic  work  is  indeed  remarkable,  and  truly  commend- 
able. A  short  sketch  of  how,  when  and  where  sheep  are 
shorn  in  the  old  country,  will  not,  I  trust,  be  out  of  place, 
but,  on  the  contrary,  I  hope  will  prove  interesting  if  not  in- 
structive to  the  readers  of  this  little  volume. 

Three  styles  of  shearing  are  in  vogue,  viz.:  "The  long," 
"the  round"  and  "diamond"  styles,  the  latter  style  now,  how- 
ever, being  almost  obsolete. 

The  first  move  made  in  the  shearing  of  a  sheep  is  to  seat 
it  on  its  rump  and  then  "belly"  it.  "Bellying"  in  the  shearers' 
vernacular  means  removing  the  wool  from  the  belly  of  the 
sheep.  The  average  English  shearer  makes  it  a  particular 
point  that  the  subject  under  course  of  shearing  be  resting" 
easy  and  free  from  oppression  of  any  kind.  Many  shearers 
remove  the  wool  from  the  "butts"  of  a  sheep  while  it  sits 
on  its  rump,  whilst  others  lay  it  down  at  full  length  on  its 
side  to  perform  this  part  of  the  operation.  If  it  be  the  desire 
of  the  shearer  to  shear  the  butts  of  the  animal  whilst  it  is 
sitting  on  its  rump,  he  quickly  makes  a  few  straight  cuts 
with  his  shears  at  a  point  near  the  scrotum,  or  udder,  as  the 
case  may  be,  to  a  point  at  or  near  the  pin-bone.  This  pre- 
sents a  very  pretty  effect  when  the  lines  are  so  made  as  to 
correctly  meet  those  made  during  the  process  of  removing 
the  wool  from  the  animal's  side.  In  the  author's  opinion  the 
wool  on  the  butts  is  more  easily  removed  when  the  sheep  is 
sitting  on  its  rump  than  at  any  other  time,  or  in  any  other 
way. 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  137 

When  it  is  intended  that  a  sheep  be  shorn  the  "long"  way, 
or  style,  the  wool  is  first  removed  from  the  head,  the  wool 
on  the  throat  is  next  opened,  and  the  shearer  then  shears 
from  the  windpipe  toward  the  backbone,  or  verterbrae, 
rather,  of  the  neck,  being  very  careful  to  make  every  line 
parallel  to  each  other.  This  process  is  continued  until  a 
series  of  curves,  or  rings  are  made,  extending  from  the  head 
to  a  point  at  or  near  the  point  of  the  shoulder  blade.  Hav- 
ing proceeded  thus  far,  the  position  of  the  sheep  is  reversed 
and  the  wool  removed  from  the  other  side  of  its  neck  and 
shoulder.  It  is  then  laid  down  full  length  on  its  side  and  the 
wool  removed  therefrom  by  a  series  of  skillful,  well-directed 
movements  of  the  shears,  commencing  at  the  shoulder  and 
continuing  the  operation  to  the  stern  in  shearing  the  off- 
side of  the  sheep,  and  vice  versa,  when  shearing  the  near 
side  of  same.  As  before  intimated  each  line  should  be  parallel 
to  each  other  and  of  the  same  width;  this  ensures  a  very 
artistic  and  pretty  effect.  The  manner  of  manipulating  the 
shears  in  this  country  differs  somewhat  from  that  adopted 
by  expert  shearers  in  the  Old  Country.  Instead  of  cutting 
clear  through  the  wool,  as  is  usually  done  by  shearers  here, 
the  Englishman  uses  the  shears  much  as  would  a  lady  in 
cutting  out  a  garment,  the  shears  appearing  as  if  continually 
gnawing  its  way  through  the  wool  in  the  place  of  its  being 
cut  entirely  through  at  each  clip  of  the  shears.  The  English 
mode  of  shearing  not  only  assures  straight,  smooth,  artistic 
shearing,  but  reduces  the  chances  of  cutting  the  animal  to  a 
minimum. 

In  shearing  a  sheep  in  the  "round  way,"  as  in  the  "long 
way,"  it  is  first  "bellied,"  and  the  fleece  then  removed  by 
shearing  entirely  around  the  subject,  one-half  or  side  at  a 


138 


FITTING  SHEEP 


time,  always  leaving  every  line  parallel  to  each  other.  Sheep 
shorn  in  this  way  have  the  appearance  of  being  enveloped 
in  a  fine,  velvet  corduroy  suit,  and  look  remarkably  neat  in 
appearance.  • 

The  illustration  accompanying  this  chapter  is  admittedly 
a  poor  one.     It  should  have  been  taken  a  month  earlier,  or 


SHEEP  SHORN  THE  LONG  WAY. 


just  after  the  subject  was  shorn;  the  lines  now  being  par- 
tially obliterated.  I  hope,  however,  that  it  will  convey  a 
fairly  clear  idea  of  what  the  "long  way"  of  shearing  is,  and 
what  is  meant  by  lines  in  shearing.  Sheep  when  in  thin  flesh 
appear  to  better  advantage  when  shorn  the  "long  way,"  but 
a  flock  of  fat  wethers,  or  indeed  fat  sheep  of  any  kind,  make 
a  most  beautiful  picture  when  shorn  the  round  way,  each  one 
having  the  appearance  of  coming  out  of  the  same  mould,  or 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  139 

machine,   and   presents   a  most   pleasing   contrast   to   those 
shorn  by  the  inexperienced  and  unskilled  shearer. 

In  England  sheep  are  usually  shorn  at  a  given  price  per 
.score  (twenty  head),  with  an  allowance  of  cider  or  beer  in 
the  bargain.  The  barn  floor,  or  the  cool  shade  of  the  apple 
orchard  is  the  usual  scene  of  the  shearing  festival.  Straw 
is  placed  on  the  floor  or  ground,  as  the  case  may  be,  over 
which  is  thrown  a  tarpaulin,  or  rick  cover,  this  making  a 
tolerably  comfortable  resting  place  for  both  sheep  and  shear- 
ers. The  shearers  are  usually  attired  in  perfectly  white  over- 
alls ;  each  gang  having  its  own  "catchers"  and  wool  tyers. 

Tying  the  Fleece. 

As  soon  as  the  fleece  is  taken  off  it  should  be  carefully  laid 
on  the  tying  table  bright  side  down,  and  any  dirt,  bits  of 
straw,  burrs,  etc.,  should  be  removed.  Next  it  should  be 
packed  together  in  as  close  and  even  a  mass  as  possible 
before  being  rolled  previous  to  being  tied.  The  two  outer 
edges  should  be  turned  over  so  that  they  meet  together,  or 
even  overlap  each  other  a  trifle,  in  the  middle  of  the  fleece. 
It  should  then  be  folded  in  about  the  same  manner  as  a 
soldier  folds  his  blanket.  In  tying  a  fleece,  wool  twine  only 
should  be  used.  Wool  is  much  easier  and  neater  tied  when 
a  wool  box  is  used;  but  of  course  the  wool  should  be  carefully 
folded  before  being  put  into  the  box  if  a  really  neat  fleece  is 
expected.  Too  many  advocates  of  the  wool-tying  box  are 
entirely  too  careless  in  the  preparation  of  the  fleece  before 
being  put  into  it. 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET      141 


PART  III. 

Raising  Hot  House  Lambs. 

This  is  a  most  important  and  profitable  branch  of  the 
sheep  business  when  carried  on  on  a  business-like  basis.  It  is 
folly,  however,  for  any  one  to  launch  out  into  this  business 
without  the  right  stock-in-trade,  the  most  important  item  of 
which  is  a  good  flock  of  ewes,  endowed  with  an  unusual  share 
of  maternal  instinct,  milking  qualities,  precocity,  prolificacy 
and  fecundity.  To  this  must  be  added  a  comfortable,  but  not 
necessarily  costly,  barn.  Then  the  men  in  charge  must  be 
honest  and  faithful.  Whilst  it  is  true  that  we  sometimes  find 
an  occasional  ewe  in  almost  all  flocks  that  readily  encour- 
ages the  amorous  attentions  of  the  ram  at  a  time  favorable 
to  the  bringing  about  of  yeaning  at  a  desirable  time  for  the 
production  of  early  lambs,  it  is  no  less  true  that  very  few 
flocks  or  breeds  have  this  peculiarity  or  trait  in  such  a 
marked  degree  as  to  warrant  the  owners  of  same  launching 
out  into  the  hot-house  lamb  business  with  any  degree  of 
safety  or  much  chance  of  success. 

But  few  of  the  Down  breeds  are  really  reliable  as  early 
lamb-raisers,  but  there  is  one,  whose  precocity  and  fecundity 
warrants  it  a  place  among  those  classed  as  early  lamb-raisers. 
It  is  the  Hampshire. 

Among  the  long-wools  we  find  that  the  Devon-Longwool 
compares  very  favorably  with  those  whose  mission  is  that 
of  raising  early  lambs  for  the  market.  The  Rambouillet,  the 


142  FITTING  SHEEP 


Merino  and  Tunis  breeders  claim,  and  perhaps  justly  so,  that 
their  respective  breeds  are  well  adapted  to  the  production  of 
early,  or  hot-house  lambs.  The  writer's  experience  has  been 
that  no  breed  or  cross  fulfills  the  mission  of  early  lamb  rais- 
ing as  does  the,  Somerset  and  Dorset  Horns.  The  latter  is 
well  represented  in  this  country,  but,  as  far  as  I  am  aware,  the 
Somersets  are  not  as  yet  represented.  However,  the  Somer- 
set Horn  is  almost  the  exact  counterpart  of  the  Dorset  Horn. 

Ewes  to  be  Stimulated  by  Extra  Feed. 

Ewes  that  are  intended  to  be  bred  for  the  purpose  of  rais- 
ing early  lambs  should  receive  a  small  allowance  of  grain 
previous  to  the  ram  being  put  with  them.  This  will  stimulate 
the  genital  organs  and  ensure  a  more  regular  and  even  lamb- 
ing period.  Lambing  should  be  over,  at  the  very  latest,  by 
Christmas.  Roots  should  be  abundantly  provided  for  the 
use  of  both  ewes  and  lambs.  Too  many  flockmasters  under- 
estimate the  value  of  roots  in  the  feeding  of  their  flocks, 
contending  that  they  contain  too  little  nutriment  and  too 
much  water.  Now  my  contention  is  that,  supposing  turnips 
contained  not  one  particle  of  nutriment  in  their  composi- 
tion, their  value  as  an  aid  to  digestion  cannot  be  over-esti- 
mated. It  is  unwise  to  consider  the  raising  of  really  good 
sheep  of  any  kind  without  the  aid  of  succulent  rations  of 
some  kind.  Roots  are  cheaply  grown  and  fill  the  bill  to  a 
nicety. 

Castrating  or  Docking  Spring  Lambs  Unnecessary. 

As  regard  lambs  that  are  intended  to  be  sold  as  spring 
lambs,  it  is  not  required  that  they  be  either  docked  or 
emasculated. 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  143 

Lambs  usually  commence  to  eat  at  from  ten  to  twenty 
days  old.  A  portion  of  the  barn  should  be  partitioned  off 
to  be  used  as  a  feeding  ground  for  them.  Creeps  must  be 
so  fixed  that  the  lambs  may  have  access  to  grain  rations,  etc.,, 
without  danger  of  molestation  from  the  ewes.  Both  ewes  and 
lambs  should  be  fed  carefully,  liberally  and  punctually.  I 
have  found  February  the  banner  month  for  the  disposal  of 
really  fat,  plump  spring  lambs.  I  have  found  it  profitable 
to  dress  my  own  lambs.  (See  chapter  on  Dressing  Sheep 
and  Lambs  for  Market,  page  205) 

A  well-fed  Dorset  lamb  should  dress  anywhere  from  25  to- 
35  pounds  at  about  10  weeks  old.  An  American  breeder  of 
Dorsets  claims  to  have  dressed  lambs  of  that  breed  that  at 
the  age  of  two  months  dressed  40  pounds.  A  truly  commend- 
able  showing  for  both  breed  and  breeder. 

Desirable  Markets. 

There  is  always  ready  sale  for  neat,  first-class  spring- 
lambs.  All  first-class  hotels  and  restaurants  are  on  the  watch 
for  something  above  par  along  this  line — something  that  will 
tickle  their  patrons'  palates.  I  have  never  experienced  any 
difficulty  in  getting  ten  dollars  per  head  for  really  prime 
lambs  dressing  from  25  to  35  pounds  per  head.  In  fact,  at 
one  particular  season  the  demand  far  exceeded  the  supply. 
Ten  dollars  seems  an  exorbitant  price  for  such  dainty  mor- 
sels, but  even  at  this  figure  the  profits  from  such  a  source 
are  sometimes  small,  and  where  the  feeder  is  not  thoroughly 
attentive  and  faithful  to  his  business  the  profit  will  be,  prob- 
ably, nothing  at  all.  Ewes  whose  mission  is  that  of  early 
lamb-raising  should  be  coupled  with  the  ram  not  later  than 
the  first  week  in  July.  Lambs  will  then  appear  thick  and 


144        FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET. 

fast  in  the  month  of  December,  provided  the  ewes  are  what 
they  are  intended  to  be,  viz.,  early  lamb-raisers.  Our  ewes 
must  be  fed  liberally,  but  should  not  be  fat.  Food  of  a  heat- 
ing nature  should  be  avoided,  or  serious  troubles  may  follow 
in  the  shape  of  scours,  abortion,  etc.  The  entrance  to  the 
barn  should  be  wide,  so  as  to  prevent  the  wedging  of  the 
ewes  together  in  their  mad  rush  for  their  grain  ration;  many 
cases  of  abortion  are  directly  traceable  to  this  evil. 

In  the  Hothouse. 

The  barn  should  be  divided  into  pens;  the  hay  racks  can 
be  utilized  for  this  purpose,  thereby  economizing  room. 
Light  and  ventilation  are  indispensible.  The  self-feeder  can- 
not be  used  to  advantage  in  the  feeding  of  hot-house  lambs. 
The  lambs  must  be  excessively  fat,  or  when  dressed  they  will 
make  a  poor  showing.  The  rations  of  both  dam  and  off- 
spring must  be  of  the  best.  The  clover  hay  should  be  the 
very  best  procurable,  free  from  dust  and  if  the  blossoms  are 
discernable  in  it,  so  much  the  better. 

Rations  for  Spring  Lambs. 

The  finest  quality  lambs  I  ever  handled  were  fed  on  oil- 
cake, crushed  to  pea  size,  pulped  turnips — five  pounds  of 
turnips  to  one  of  oilcake,  mixed — and  all  the  clover  hay  they 
would  eat.  They  were  fed  as  much  of  this  ration  as  they 
could  eat,  three  times  a  day.  Any  that  was  left  uneaten  after 
one-half  hour  after  feeding  was  removed  from  the  troughs 
and  went  to  help  in  the  make-up  of  the  ewes'  rations.  Worm 
powders,  mixed'  with  salt  and  ashes,  were  accessible  to  them 
at  all  times.  Cut  corn  fodder  was  used  as  roughage  at  noon 


il 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.       147 

in  the  place  of  hay,  this  I  believe  having  a  very  beneficial 
effect  by  way  of  variety.  All  roughage,  clover  hay,  fodder 
or  whatever  same  may  consist  of  was  changed  three  times 
daily,  no  stale  rations  being  ever  allowed  before  them.  What 
the  lambs  do  not  clean  up,  the  ewes  will;  therefore,  there  is- 
practically  no  waste  attending  the  feeding  oprations.  At 
first,  when  the  lambs  commence  to  eat,  a  little  ground  oats 
and  finished  middlings  prove  very  agreeable  and  beneficial 
to  them.  Another  very  good  ration  is:  Give  new  process 
oil  meal  until  about  one  month  old;  after  this  one  peck  of 
cracked  corn,  and,  if  obtainable,  one  peck  of  bruised  barley, 
in  preference  to  same  quantity  of  oats.  Give  all  they  will- 
eat  three  times  daily.  The  lambs  should  never  be  required  to 
eat  up  what  they  leave  over  from  one  meal  to  another,  or 
fat  lambs  cannot  be  expected.  Lambs  to  become  fat  and  prime 
must  be  kept  full  and  their  "tails  wiggling." 

Rations  for  the  Breeding  Ewes. 

A  very  valuable  ration  for  ewes  after  lambing  is  com- 
pounded as  follows:  10  pounds  corn  meal,  10  pounds  wheat 
bran,  2  pounds  linseed  meal  (mix).  Feed  at  the  rate  of 
one  pound  of  this  mixture  on  one  or  two  pounds  of  cut  tur- 
nips or  other  roots  that  may  be  on  hand.  Feed  morning  and 
evening.  Give  all  the  bright  clover  hay  they  will  eat  up  with- 
out waste.  It  is  always  advisable  that  the  ewes  be  fed  lightly 
of  rich,  stimulating  rations  for  the  first  few  days  after  yean- 
ing. Scours  are  ofttimes  the  outcome  of  too  generous  feed- 
ing directly  after  yeaning.  This  little  trouble,  however,  is 
usually  easily  corrected  by  the  change  of  rations;  should  it 
not  prove  effectual  drugs  must  be  resorted  to.  Castor  oil, 


148       FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET. 

il/2  fl.  oz.;  laudanum,  I  fl.  dr.;  chloric  ether,  I  fl.  dr.,  divided 
in  four  or  five  equal  parts  (this  somewhat  depends  on  size 
and  age  of  lamb),  will  quickly  correct  all  troubles  of  this 
nature.  It  is  easiest  given  in  a  little  oatmeal  gruel,  or  lin- 
seed mucilage.  If  scours  can  be  stopped  without  the  admin- 
istration of  drugs  so  much  the  better. 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.       151 


PART  IV. 

Forage  Crops — Roots. 

N  many  parts  of  our  great  country  the  climate 
does  not  allow  of  the  pasturing  of  sheep  during 
the  winter  months.  Sheep  are  lovers  of  suc- 
culent food  and  are  known  to  thrive  better  on 
such  than  on  dry  fodder,  etc.;  therefore  it  be- 
hooves us  to  look  well  ahead  and  make  prep- 
aration for  supplying  them  accordingly.  How 
can  we  do  this?  Simply  by  providing  them  with  roots  such 
as  mangels,  beets,  turnips,  rutabagas,  etc.  All  of  the  above- 
named  roots  grow  very  satisfactorily  in  most  parts  of  North 
America,  and  they  furnish  a  ration  more  conducive  to  the 
growth  of  the  young  and  growing  animal  than  almost  any 
other. 

The  value  of  roots  for  sheep  should  be  measured  not  only 
from  a  feeding  standpoint,  but  also  from  a  medicinal  point  of 
view,  as  they  are,  without  doubt,  a  valuable  corrector  of  the 
digestive  system.  Generally  they  are  very  easily  and  cheaply 
produced.  Where  the  land  is  very  fertile  large  crops  can  be 
raised  with  very  little  outlay  of  either  labor  or  capital. 

Of  course  where  it  is  intended  that  large  quantities  of 
roots  be  raised  for  the  use  of  the  flock  during  the  winter  sea- 
son, ample  provision  should  be  made  for  the  keeping  of 
same  by  providing  suitable  cellars  in  close  proximity  to  the 
sheep  barns  where  they  can  be  stored  and  used  without  dan- 


152  FITTING  SHEEP 


ger  of  becoming  frozen.  When  building  a  cellar  it  is  well 
to  arrange  it  so  that  the  door  will  open  directly  into  the 
sheep  barn.  This  will  make  it  not  only  convenient,  but  will 
reduce  to  a  minimum  all  danger  of  the  roots  freezing  while 
being  handled. 

Cabbage. 

Cabbage  grows  more  or  less  satisfactory  in  all  parts  of 
the  United  States.'  Our  neighbors,  the  Canadians,  are  fully 
alive  to  the  value  of  this  plant  as  a  sheep  food,  and  they 
raise  them  somewhat  extensively  for  their  use.  Cabbage  is  a 
sheep  food  that  where  once  tried  almost  always  finds  favor 
among  the  owners  and  raisers  of  stud  sheep.  In  many  re- 
spects cabbage  is  superior  and  preferable  to  rape  as  a  sheep 
food;  especially  is  this  so  late  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  as  then 
a  few  thousand  heads  stored  away  can  be  fed  to  advantage 
when  frost  makes  it  dangerous  to  allow  sheep  to  partake  of 
rape.  Many  tons  of  cabbage  can  be  raised  on  an  acre  of 
ground,  and  although  there  is  sometimes  much  trouble  ex- 
perienced in  getting  the  plants  well  started  in  dry  summers, 
they  are  nevertheless  a  very  profitable  and  desirable  crop  for 
the  flockmaster  to  raise. 

Thousand-Headed  Kale. 

Thousand-headed  Kale  is  a  plant  belonging  to  the  cabbage 
family.  This  plant  grows  to  an  enormous  size  and  furnishes 
one  of  the  most  succulent,  appetizing,  healthful  and  fattening 
rations  either  for  cattle  or  sheep  known  to  stock-raisers.  As 
before  intimated,  Thousand-headed  Kale  grows  to  an  im- 
mense size  and  its  enormous  stalk  growing  to  a  great  height 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  153 

arid  covered,  as  its  name  implies,  with  numerous  cabbage- 
like  heads  furnishes  a  sight  that  cannot  be  but  pleasing  to 
either  cattle,  sheep  or  their  owners.  I  have  seen  single 
specimens  of  this  plant  growing  in  this  country  that  was  all 
any  ordinary  mortal  would  wish  to  carry.  One  peculiarity 
this  plant  has  to  recommend  it  is  that  cattle  or  sheep  do  not 
appear  to  bloat  on  it,  no  matter  under  what  condition  it  is 
fed.  Of  course  this  applies  to  En-gland.  We  would  not  dare 
to  risk  feeding  it  when  frozen.  It  is  grown  very  extensively 
by  the  English  flockmasters,  many  of  whom  would  as  soon 
think  of  running  their  flocks  without  a  shepherd  as  discard- 
ing Kale  from  their  list  of  forage  crops. 

White  Mustard. 

White  mustard  is  largely  grown  in  England  for  the  use 
of  the  flock.  There  is  no  doubt  but  that  it  contains  tonic 
properties  of  a  very  valuable  nature.  It  is  'a  plant  of  very 
rapid  growth  and  contains,  or  is  possessed  of,  the  peculiar 
property  of  stimulating  the  genital  organs,  and  by  its  use 
breeding — as  applied  to  England — may  be  brought  about  at 
almost  any  season  of  the  year  desired.  Sheep  having  been 
pastured  on  mustard  seem  to  fatten  very  rapidly  when  put  on 
ordinary  pasture.  Six  weeks  after  sowing,  mustard  will  be 
in  full  bloom  and  ready  for  cutting  or  pasturing.  Much  has 
teen  said  and  written  regarding  the  danger  from  raising  this 
plant  on  account  of  its  liability  of  seeding  itself  and  proving 
an  obnoxious  weed,  as  wild  mustard  is  known  to  be.  That 
these  fears  are  groundless  I  have  proved  by  experiment.  I 
have  found  that  the  seed  will  always  germinate  when  frost 
is  absent,  but  that  the  least  degree  of  frost  is  fatal  to  its 


154  FITTING  SHEEP 


existence.  Therefore  in  countries  where  frost  is  natural, 
danger  from  mustard  reproducing  itself  by  natural  seeding 
need  not  worry  the  farmer  or  flockmaster. 

I  have  sown  the  seed  at  many  different  periods  during  the 
fall  months,  but  in  no  one  case  have  I  seen  a  single  seed 
germinate  in  the  spring,  for  the  simple  reason  that  the  seed 
would  all  germinate  in  the  fall  and  continue  to  grow  until 
destroyed  by  frost.  The  English  wild  mustard  plant  or 
"Charlock"  has  been  confounded  with  the  domesticated 
English  white  mustard;  it  is,  however,  a  very  different  plant. 

Kohl  Rabbi. 

Kohl  Rabi  is  a  root  much  relished  by  sheep  and  exten- 
sively grown  by  many  old  country  flockmasters.  It  is  better 
suited  for  the  dry  and  hot  seasons  experienced  in  many  parts 
of  America  than  any  other  plant  or  root  that  I  am  acquainted 
with.  I  have  grown  enormous  crops  of  them  in  Indiana. 
They  are  a  very  dry  fleshed  root,  and  belong  to  the  cab- 
bage family.  In  appearance  they  are  not  unlike  a  rutabaga, 
growing  on  a  very  short  cabbage  stump,  or  stalk,  with  the 
leaves  growing  in  a  scattered  way  all  over  the  bulb,  instead 
of  growing  in  a  tuft,  as  is  the  case  with  the  rutabaga.  Kohl 
Rabi  is  raised  in  about  the  same  way  and  manner  as  ruta- 
bagas, and  originally  came  from  Hungary. 

Common  Turnips. 

Our  common  turnip  furnishes  one  of  the  most  appetizing 
and  valuable  rations  for  the  flock  that  we  have.  Were  there 
not  a  particle  of  nutriment  in  them,  they  would  still  be  val- 
uable if  only  as  an  aid  and  promoter  of  digestion,  especially 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  155 

during  the  winter  months.  In  the  old  country  thousands  of 
sheep  are  fattened  annually  on  little  other  than  turnips  as  a 
bulk  ration,  with  the  addition  of  a  small  quantity  of  grain. 
What  turnip-fed  mutton  means  in  England  the  whole  world 
of  shepherds  are  familiar  with.  It  is  not  only  for  fattening 
sheep  that  they  are  prized,  but  for  the  bloom  and  growth 
they  put  on  young  stock  of  all  kinds.  Turnips  are  easily  and 
cheaply  grown.  I  have  grown  them  to  perfection  in  the 
Central  states  by  simply  sowing  the  seed  broadcast  in  the 
cornfield  ahead  of  the  cultivator  at  the  last  cultivation  of  the 
corn.  The  largest  ones  I  pulled  and  stored  for  winter  use, 
the  smaller  ones  I  left  for  the  flock  to.  clear  off  the  ground 
at  will.  I  can  safely  say  that  no  more  healthful  or  economi- 
cal food  was  ever  raised  than  this,  and  the  wonder  is  that 
ten  times  more  roots  are  not  raised  by  our  American  flock- 
masters  to-day  than  there  are. 

Mangels  or  Beets. 

Mangels,  or  beets,  although  furnishing  one  of  the  most 
desirable  roots  for  ewes  when  fed  toward  the  spring,  are  not 
a  very  safe  ration  to  feed  during  cold  weather,  they  being 
very  apt  to  cause  scours  of  a  very  malignant  form.  When 
comparatively  dry  and  free  from  water  toward  spring  there 
is  no  better  ration  for  the  ewe  that  is  suckling  a  lamb.  Man- 
gels should  never  be  fed  to  rams,  as  there  is  no  doubt  what- 
ever but  that  they  are  the  cause  of  trouble  of  the  urinary 
organs,  and  many  a  fine  ram  has  been  lost  from  stoppage  of 
the  water  brought  about  by  the  use  of  these  roots. 

The  mangel  is  a  very  heavy  cropper,  and  is  easily  handled, 
and  where  provisions  are  made  for  the  keeping  of  roots 


156  FITTING  SHEEP 


every  flockmaster  would  be  wise  in  putting  away  a  few 
hundred  bushels  for  the  use  of  ewes  when  the  turnips  are  all 
eaten  up  and  no  grass  or  anything  succulent  is  in  sight. 
Mangels  will  keep,  if  properly  stored,  till  away  along  in  Mayt 
and  maybe  June,  if  it  is  found  necessary. 

The  Sand  Vetch. 

The  sand  vetch  is  one  'of  the  most  desirable  and  profitable 
crops  the  shepherd  can  grow  for  early  spring  use.  Sown 
with  rye  in  August,  or  early  in  September  it  furnishes  a 
spring  crop  that  is  greatly  relished  by  all  members  of  the 
flock.  Although  perhaps  not  so  good  as  the  spring  vetch  it 
should  be  grown  by  every  flockmaster  who  understands  the 
importance  of  feeding  succulent  rations  to  the  flock  as 
much  as  possible  at  all  times  of  the  year.  In  the  spring 
when  little  else  is  in  sight  to  satisfy  the  craving  appetites  of 
the  ewes  and  lambs  for  something  green,  something  suc- 
culent, the  sand  vetch  affords  them  an  opportunity  to  satisfy 
this  craving  to  their  hearts'  content.  The  sand  vetch  is  a 
plant  of  rapid  growth  and  can  be  fed  almost  continually 
until  frost  comes,  either  by  pasturing  or  cutting.  It  can  be 
cut  many  times  in  the  season.  I  have  had  experience  with 
it  both  in  Canada  and  the  state  of  Indiana  and  found  it  to 
give  great  satisfaction  as  a  ration  for  sheep.  It  will  grow, 
when  sown  with  rye,  to  the  height  of  five  feet,  and  when 
in  full  bloom  looks  very  pretty  as  it  climbs  the  rye  stalks. 

The  Spring  Vetch. 

Spring  vetches,  or  tares,  is  one  of  the  most  useful  and 
profitable  crops  that  the  shepherd  can  raise  for  his  flock.  As 
a  fattening  ration  for  sheep  spring  vetches  have  no  peer  in 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  157 

the  whole  list  of  our  forage  plants.  Sheep  eat  them  greed- 
ily and  prefer  them  to  the  sand  or  winter  vetch.  As  a  starter 
for  show  sheep  they  are  unsurpassed.  Peas,  oats,  rape  and 
spring  vetches  sown  together  makes  an  ideal  ration  for  fit- 
ting show  sheep.  They  are  much  hardier  than  peas  and 
after  being  cut  down  by  frost  will  spring  up  again  and  make 
a  good  crop.  There  is  no  doubt  of  its  superiority  over  the 
sand  vetch,  so  far  as  its  feeding  value  is  concerned.  The 
spring  vetch  has  a  considerably  larger  and  fleshier  leaf  and 
stem  than  the  sand  vetch.  Every  flqckmaster  should  try  a 
small  patch  of  spring  vetches.  The  flock  will  most  assuredly 
appreciate  it. 

Rye. 

In  the  early  spring  months  rye  furnishes  a  most  appetizing 
and  succulent  ration. for  the  flock,  and  where  the  fall  growth 
has  been  rank  it  may  then  be  fed  off  without  doing  but  little, 
if  any,  damage  to  the  plant,  provided  it  is  not  fed  off  too  late 
in  the  season.  Rye  should  be  sown  as  soon  as  possible  after 
harvest.  I  have  grown  some  very  good  crops  of  rye  by 
sowing  it  in  the  cornfield  right  after  the  corn  is  shocked.  No 
especial  preparation  of  the  ground  need  be  employed  other 
than  harrowing  once  or  twice  before  seeding,  and  once  after 
to  cover  the  seed.  Rye  grows  very  rapidly  and  should  not 
be  allowed  to  get  old  and  woody  before  being  pastured.  It 
may  be  pastured  for  quite  a  while  by  the  flock,  after  which 
it  may  be  allowed  to  mature,  and  it  will  be  found,  even  then, 
to  make  a  pretty  good  yield  of  grain.  It  is  not  advisable  to 
turn  the  sheep  on  the  rye  when  hungry,  or  when  the  rye  is 
heavily  charged  with  moisture.  Rye  furnishes  a  fine  ration, 
when  little  else  is  at  hand,  for  starting  the  show  flock  toward 


158  FITTING  SHEEP 


that  condition  known  as  bloom.  In  pasturing  the  rye  field 
with  sheep  it  is  better  to  divide  the  field  into  sections  by 
hurdles,  or  some  other  portable  fence,  than  to  allow  the 
flock  the  whole  range  of  the  field.  Where  grain  is  used  the 
troughs  should  be  placed  on  the  poorest. knolls  or  parts  of  the 
field.  Lambs  creeps  should  be  provided,  so  that  the  lambs 
can  feed  ahead  of  the  ewes,  and  thereby  get  the  cream  of  the 
crop. 

How  to  Raise  Rape. 

In  England  rape  is  grown  extensively.  The  climate  of 
that  country  is  mild  enough  to  allow  of  its  standing  the 
winter  and  furnishing  a  most  valuable  feed  for  the  ewes  and 
lambs  in  early  spring,  which  enhances  the  growth  of  the 
young  lambs  to  an  appreciable  extent.  Our  winters  here  do 
not  allow  of  this,  but  as  regards  the  growing  of  rape  for  late 
summer  and  fall  pastures,  this  country  is  everything  that  can 
be  desired.  Rape  is  a  lover  of  rich  soil,  although  it  is  a  fact 
that  the  plant  is  not  so  much  relished  by  the  flock  when 
grown  on  soil  that  is  very  rich  as  it  is  when  grown  on  a 
comparatively  poor  soil. 

Rape  can  be  sown  in  many  parts  of  the  country  as  early 
as  April.  For  late  fall  feeding  June  or  even  July  is  early 
enough.  I  have  found,  however,  that  the  early  crop  does 
not  always  prove  profitable,  as  the  aphis  or  louse  attacks  it 
badly.  In  appearance  rape  is  not  unlike  a  rutabaga  that  is 
all  tops  and  no  bulb. 

About  three  pounds  of  seed  to  the  acre  will  be  found  suffi- 
cient for  a  good  stand  where  the  land  is  rich.  It  can  be  sown 
either  broadcast  or  drilled.  Care  must  be  observed  not  to 
pasture  rape  when  it  is  heavily  laden  with  moisture  from  dew 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  159 

or  rain,  as  bloat  may  be  the  result  It  is  always  well  to  see 
that  the  sheep  have  their  stomachs  well  filled  before  being^ 
turned  into  the  rape  field.  By  thus  doing,  danger  from  bloat 
is  minimized. 

Rape  in  the  Corn  Field. 

Sowing  rape  in  the  cornfield  before  the  cultivator  at  the 
last  cultivation  of  the  corn  is  in  some  seasons  very  desirable 
and  profitable,  while  in  others  it  cannot  be  said  to  be  a  suc- 
cess, especially  in  times  of  drought.  However,  as  the  cost 
is  small  it  is  not  out  of  place  to  make  it  a  rule  to  sow  some 
on  this  plan  yearly.  It  is,  outside  of  the  cost  of  seed  and 
the  little  time  it  takes  in  sowing,  clear  profit,  and  of  no  small 
benefit  in  crowding  out  obnoxious  weeds  which  would  other- 
wise infest  the  land.  What  few  weeds  grow  up  among  the 
rape  furnis'hes  a  tonic  for  the  sheep  that  are  put  into  the 
field.  It  is  remarkable  that  more  of  this  valuable  forage 
plant  is  not  grown  in  this  way  when  one  takes  into  con- 
sideration the  small  cost  of  producing  same  and  the  large 
amount  of  valuable  food  it  furnishes. 

Ensilage. 

Good,  sweet  ensilage  makes  a  first-class  ration  for  sheep, 
especially  for  fattening  sheep.  I  have  fed  largely  of  it,  but 
to  be  candid  I  consider  it  a  little  too  heating  and  fattening 
for  breeding  ewes  where  fed  in  anything  like  large  quantities. 
Where  fed  in  moderate  quantities  it  is  not  only  a  useful 
ration,  but  is  also  a  valuable  tonic,  especially  where  the  shep- 
herd has  not  been  wise  in  providing  an  abundance  of  roots. 
Mouldy  ensilage  should  not  under  any  consideration  be  fed 
to  any  class  of  sheep,  as  it  will  most  assuredly  cause  serious 
disturbance  of  the  stomach  and  bowels. 


160  FITTING  SHEEP 


Sainfoin. 

Sainfoin  is  a  plant  that  is  held  in  very  high  esteem  among 
English  flockmasters.  It  is  found  growing  more  or  less  in 
tire  common  pastures  of  that  country  and  will  flourish  on  ex- 
ceedingly poor  soil.  The  writer  has  seen  it  "flourishing  as 
the  green  bay  tree"  on  no  other  sustenance  than  that  found 
in  the  mortar  of  an  old  wall  on  which  it  was  growing.  It 
stands  drought  admirably,  and  grows  luxuriantly  on  dry 
chalky  soils.  In  appearance  it  may  be  likened  unto  a  dwarf 
clover  with  an  exceedingly  fine  leaf  and  stem  and  a  very 
diminutive  golden  colored  flower.  It  makes  one  of  the  best 
sheep  foods  known,  and  is  very  fattening.  I  have  raised  it  in 
this  country  and  it  appears  to  thrive  all  right,  and  there  is 
no  doubt  in  the  writer's  mind  but  what  it  is  a  profitable  crop 
for  the  American  flockmaster  to  raise.  Before  the  value  of 
turnips  was  perfectly  understood  and  appreciated  in  England, 
this  valuable  plant  was  the  mainstay  of  the  flockmasters  of 
that  country.  Sainfoin  makes  the  finest  and  best  of  all  sheep 
hay. 

Alfalfa  or  Lucerne. 

Alfalfa  or  lucerne  is  a  valuable  addition  to  the  sheep's  bill 
of  fare.  I  consider,  however,  that  its  real  value  lies  more  in 
the  shape  of  hay  than  as  a  soiling  crop,  for  unless  cut  and 
fed  in  racks  there  is  considerable  waste  in  feeding  it,  espe- 
cially where  it  has  attained  any  considerable  growth.  It  is 
necessary  for  the  shepherd  to  keep  a  sharp  look-out  for 
bloat  while  his  sheep  are  being  pastured  on  alfalfa;  espe- 
cially is  this  so  in  wet  seasons. 


51 


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HH  y. 
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H  y 

i--,    rt 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.      163 


PART  V. 

Common  Ailments  of  the  Flock  and  How  to  Treat  Them. 
The  Hospital. 

T  is  important  that  every  well-appointed  sheep 
barn  be  provided  with  its  hospital  wherein  any 
sick  members  of  the  flock  may  be  put,  properly 
treated  and  cared  for.  It  is  advisable  that  this 
institution  be  erected  at  some  considerable  dis- 
tance from  the  sheep  barn,  as  then  in  case  of  a 
contagious  disease,  danger  of  infection  is  greatly 
reduced.  This  sometimes  means  the  saving  of  a  great  deal 
of  trouble  to  the  shepherd  and  loss  to  the  flockmaster.  As 
soon  as  a  sheep  is  seen  to  be  ailing  the  hospital  is  the  place 
for  it.  Of  course  this  building  need  only  be  a  small  struct- 
ure and  the  ,cost  of  same  merely  a  nominal  figure.  It  is 
important  that  this  place  be  kept  scrupulously  clean,  properly 
ventilated,  and  disinfected  if  good  results  are  expected  and 
attained. 

The  Stomach  Worm. 

Strongylus  Contortus  is  the  shepherd's  true  terror.  As 
probably  most  shepherds  know,  this  is  the  scientific  name  for 
the  stomach  worm  in  lambs.  The  worm  "pest"  has  been  for 
the  past  few  years,  and  still  is,  a  very  serious  problem  in  the 
minds  of  both  shepherd  and  flockmaster  alike.  There  are, 


164  FITTING  SHEEP 


undoubtedly,  many  things  yet  left  undone  which  ought  to  be 
done  in  satisfactorily  solving  this  vital  trouble.  It  is  ques- 
tionable whether  many  of  our  great  authorities  do  not  lay 
too  much  stress  on  old  infested  pastures  as  being  the  pre- 
dominant cause  of  so  much  loss  among  the  juvenile  mem- 
bers of  our  flocks.  This  may  to  a  great  extent  be  true,  but 
I  have  a  case  in  mind  where  worms  are  working  havoc 
among  a  flock  that  was  turned  onto  pasture  and  where  the 
hoof  of  sheep  had  never  trod  before  the  spring  of  the  present 
year.  Then  again  I  have  taken  care  of  flocks  where  sheep 
have  been  pastured  for  more  than  a  century  on  the  same 
farm,  and  yet  they  have  never  suffered  from  worms.  Further, 
I  have  had  charge  of  flocks  that  did  not  suffer  a  particle 
from  worms,  although  the  farm  on  which  the  sheep  were 
being  pastured  was  situated  directly  in  the  midst  of  a  badly 
infected  area  where  the  neighbors'  lambs  were  dying  fast.  I 
.account  for  the  fact  of  my  lambs  not  dying  to  high  feeding. 
They  were  getting  a  pound  of  oil-cake  a  day  while  those  of 
my  neighbors  were  getting  nothing  more  than  the  ordinary 
pastures  afforded  them.  I  have  never  had  serious  trouble 
from  the  ravages  of  worms  in  my  flock  where  I  have  had  an 
abundant  supply  of  supplementary  rations  to  feed. 

I  have  always  considered  that  worm  trouble  is  brought 
about  by  local  causes  other  than  old  pastures,  such  as  wet, 
feverish  seasons — meaning  by  this  the  conditions  existing 
in  summer,  which  season  is  sometimes  made  up  of  stormy 
weather,  the  intervals  between  the  showers  being  excessively 
hot  and  enervating.  The  grass,  being  heavily  charged  with 
moisture,  sours  and  fevers  the  lamb's  stomach,  making  it  a 
most  desirable  habitat  for  the  worm.  It  is  well-known  that 
children  partaking  of  unripe  fruit  to  excess  are  very  liable  to 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  165 

suffer  from  worms.  I  have  always  considered  -that  sour  grass 
has  a  like  effect  on  young  lambs.  As  a  corrector  to  this  state 
or  condition  of  the  lamb's  stomach  a  ration  consisting  of 
cats  and  oil-cake  is,  to  my  mind,  an  ideal  one.  I  say  without 
fear  of  successful  contradiction  that  where  young  lambs  have 
a  liberal  grain  ration  in  connection  with  their  pasture  less 
trouble  is  experienced  in  regard  to  the  attack  of  the  deadly 
stomach  worm.  I  am  a  firm  believer  that  hog  cholera  is 
caused  by  a  morbid  state  of  the  animal's  stomach,  caused  in 
a  majority  of  cases  through  improper  feeding,  filth  and 
neglect  in  supplying  proper  correctors  of  acidity  in  the  stom- 
ach, and  I  believe  that  a  lamb  is  similarly  affected  and  that 
the  morbidness  of  the  stomach  is  the  ideal  state  for  the 
development  of  the  germ.  I  am  satisfied  that  a  well-fed  lamb 
offers  but  little  encouragement  for  the  attack  of  the  stomach 
worm.  This  appears  reasonable  to  me  from  the  fact  that 
experience  has  taught  me  that  sheep,  or  lambs  rather,  being 
properly  fed  for  show  purposes,  do  not  suffer  from  their 
attacks. 

Have  we  yet  a  remedy  that  is  reliable  as  a  destroyer  of  the 
.stomach  worm?  My  candid  opinion  is  we  have  not.  It  is 
claimed  that  benzine  will  destroy  the  deadly  pest.  Experi- 
ment has  not  yet  satisfactorily  proved  it  to  the  writer.  I 
will  give  my  experience  along  this  line. 

A  little  over  a  year  ago  I  selected  four  lambs  very  badly 
infested  with  stomach  worms.  Two  of  these  I  drenched  as 
prescribed  by  the  advocates  of  benzine.  After  due  time  had 
tieen  allowed  for  the  medicine  to  take  effect  I  killed  the  two 
lambs  and  made  an  examination  of  the  fourth  stomach  ex- 
pecting to  find  the  lambs  either  free  from  worms  or  the 
stomach  containing  nothing  in  the  shape  of  worms  but  dead 


166  FITTING  SHEEP 


ones.  My  expectations  did  not  realize  however,  for  a  health- 
ier lot  of  worms  I  never  saw  inside  the  fourth  stomach  of  a 
lamb,  and  I  have  seen  a  good  many.  This  experiment  not 
being  just  what  I  wished  or  expected  I  made  up  my  mind 
that  I  would  make  another  one.  This  time  I  took  the  two 
remaining  lambs  and  gave  them  a  double  dose  of  benzine,  or 
in  other  words,  I  gave  them  twice  the  quantity  prescribed 
by  those  recommending  its  use.  I  expected  that  this  treat- 
ment would  kill  the  lambs  right  off,  but  it  did  not.  .  It  badly 
intoxicated  them.  On  the  second  day  after  the  lambs  had 
received  full  treatment  I  killed  both  of  them  expecting  to 
find  the  stomach  entirely  free  from  living  worms.  Judge  my 
surprise  when  upon  opening  the  stomachs  of  the  lambs  I 
found  them  literally  alive  with  worms.  Now,  if  the  benzine 
was  of  ordinary  strength,  which  my  druggist  assures  me  it 
was,  I  have  no  other  alternative  but  to  think  that  benzine 
does  not  actually  do  all  that  it  is  claimed  for  it  in  destroying 
stomach  worms. 

It  is  a  question  in  my  mind  whether  a  remedy  so  volatile 
as  benzine  is  known  to  be,  could  ever  reach  the  fourth  stom- 
ach in  sufficient  strength  and  quantity  after  evaporation  and 
dissemination  through  the  system,  and  its  becoming  mixed 
with  the  juices  of  the  first  stomach  as  to  destroy  the  worms. 
But  you  say  the  lambs  are  to  be  deprived  of  both  food  and 
water  for  a  considerable  time  before  the  medicine  is  adminis- 
tered, and  that  the  stomach  will  be  practically  free  from 
liquids!  While  this  may  be  true  in  part,  the  fact  still  re- 
mains that  there  is  a  considerable  amount  of  liquid  created 
by  the  salivary  glands,  which  becomes  mixed  with  the  benzine 
in  the  first  stomach  and  does  its  work  in  reducing  the 
strength  of  the  benzine. 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  .  167 

If  it  were  practicable  to  administer  the  benzine  in  its  raw 
state  or  full  strength  in  the  shape  of  a  ball,  as  is  sometimes 
given  to  horses,  we  might,  perhaps,  expect  better  results 
than  from  reducing  its  strength  by  mixing  it  with  milk,  etc., 
before  administration. 

To  Prevent  Attacks  of  the  Gadfly. 

This  pest  sometimes  causes  considerable  trouble  in  the 
flock.  The  most  simple  and  effectual  remedy  I  am  acquainted 
with  is  to  bore  a  number  of  holes  in  a  log,  fill  them  with  salt 
and  then  smear  tar  over  the  holes — being  of  course  careful 
not  to  entirely  obliterate  them.  In  trying  to  get  the  salt  the 
sheep  unconsciously  smear  their  noses  with  tar.  The  holes 
should  be  bored  high  up1  in  the  log  so  as  to  prevent  the 
sides  of  the  sheep  from  becoming  daubed  with  tar.  Some- 
times by  plowing  up  a  small  patch  of  land  on  which  the  sheep 
lay  or  fold  during  the  day  the  attacks  of  the  gadfly  are  les- 
sened, as  when  the  newly-plowed  land  becomes  dry  the 
sheep,  by  their  stamping  and  running  in  trying  to  evade 
this  dreaded  pest,  causes  a  dust  to  rise  which  proves  unfavor- 
able to  its  presence. 

Constipation. 

Constipation  is  the  cause  of  great  mortality  among  young 
lambs.  Especially  is  this  true  where  an  attempt  is  made  to 
raise  early  lambs  where  succulent  rations  are  not  provided. 
Most  shepherds,  professional  and  otherwise,  sometimes  find 
a  lamb  that  will  appear  dumpish,  refuse  to  suck,  and  other- 
wise act  stragely,  although  perhaps  he  has  sucked  and  got 
along  in  fine  shape  for  four  or  five  days  previous  to  acting 


168  FITTING  SHEEP 


thus  strange.  Constipation  is  the  cause  of  these  symptoms.. 
Upon  giving  the  little  unfortunate  an  injection  of  either  soapy 
water,  or  raw  linseed  oil,  it  will  be  found  that  little  time  will 
elapse  before  he  will  commence  to  suck  with  its  oldtime 
vigor.  A  small  dose  of  linseed  oil  administered  to  the  ewe 
will  sometimes  bring  about  a  change  in  the  ewe's  system  that 
will  prove  beneficial  to  the  lamb.  Change  of  the  ewe's  food 
— not  rapid — is  usually  the  best  course  to  pursue  to  correct 
irregularities  in  the  system  of  the  offspring.  Oil-meal  or 
oil-cake  is  a  very  valuable  addition  to  the  ewe's  ration  where 
troubles  from  constipation  are  at  all  prevalent. 

Shepherds  who  desire  to  have  as  little  trouble  as  possible 
along  this  line  should  not  fail  to  plant  a  few  acres  of  roots 
for  their  sheep;  it  will  repay  them  ten-fold  in  curtailing  the 
loss  of  lambs  from  constipation,  to  say  nothing  of  the  in- 
crease in  quality  and  size  of  the  lambs. 

White  Scour*. 

Almost  all  people  having  had  experience  in  handling  either 
calves  or  lambs  are  pretty  well  familiar  with  the  symptoms 
accompanying  this  trouble.  It  is  a  common  disease,  but 
rarely  appears  in  an  epidemic  form  unless  where  grave 
errors  and  mistakes  have  been  made  in  feeding.  The  real 
cause  of  this  trouble  is  the  souring  or  curdling  of  the  milk 
in  the  lamb's  stomach.  While  nature  intends  the  mission  of 
the  fourth  stomach  to  be  that  of  curdling  the  milk  to  a  certain 
degree,  to  facilitate  digestion,  this  organ  can  be  easily  over- 
worked, overstrained  and  damaged  by  receiving  milk  iri 
excessive  quantities,  or  of  too  rich  a  nature  or  quality. 

The  first  important  move  to  be  made  in  the  treatment  of  a 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  169 

lamb  suffering  from  white  scours  is  to  dissolve  the  curd  in 
the  stomach,  and  empty  both  it  and  the  intestines  of  all 
unhealthy  matter.  Sulphate  of  magnesia,  one  ounce;  ordin- 
ary cooking  soda,  one-fourth  ounce;  ginger,  just  what  can 
be  taken  up  on  a  dime,  mixed  in  a  little  flaxseed  gruel,  will 
bring  about  what  is  required  along  this  line.  Four  hours 
after  giving  the  above  dose  administer  four  ounces  of  lin- 
seed oil  to  the  little  sufferer.  It  is  important  that  the  ewe's 
diet  be  changed  and  the  lamb  be  kept  from  drinking  large 
quantities  of  water.  Of  course  the  shepherd  must  regulate 
the  dose  according  to  the  age  of  the  lamb. 

The  Liver  Fluke. 

American  flockmasters  have  much  to  be  thankful  for  when 
the  immunity  their  flocks  enjoy  from  this  dreaded  trouble 
is  considered.  The  flockmaste'rs  of  Great  Britain  have,  with- 
out doubt,  experienced  more  loss  from  this  one  disease  than 
from  all  other  diseases  combined.  Happily  they  have  not 
experienced  much  loss  in  this  respect  during  the  past  few 
.years.  The  time  is  quite  fresh  in  the  writer's  memory  when 
thousands  upon  thousands  of  sheep  were  lost  from  the  rav- 
ages of  this  insidious  foe  in  one  short  season.  Thousands 
of  sheep  were  sold  for  little  more  than  their  pelts  would 
bring,  and  wagon  loads  of  carcasses  were  being  shipped 
daily  from  almost  every  little  country  station  that  was  sit- 
uated in  a  sheep  raising  district.  Many  flockmasters  were 
financially  ruined  by  the  pest.  One  farmer  lost  $15,000  worth 
of  sheep  in  a  single  season.  It  is  estimated  that  over  2,500,- 
ooo  sheep  perished  from  this  fatal  malady  in  one  year.  There 
is  not  a  shadow  of  doubt  but  that  liver  rot,  which  is  caused 


170        FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET. 

by  the  liver  fluke,  is  a  disease  more  common  on  low,  wet 
f  and  marshy  land  than  on  lands  that  are  high  and  dry,  there- 
fore the  benefit  accruing  from  keeping  our  flocks  on  dry, 
healthy  land  must  be  obvious.  That  the  fluke  does  some- 
times exist  in  sheep  that  are  to  all  appearance  healthy,  I 
know  from  the  fact  of  often  finding  them  in  the  livers  of 
strong,  healthy,  fat  sheep  which  I  have  slaughtered  for  the 
market.  A  flukey  or  "coathed"  sheep  is  rarely  found  on  the 
salt  marshes  of  England;  this  shows  that  salt  must  be  un- 
favorable to  the  well-being  of  the  deadly  pest. 

Wool  Balls   in  Lambs'  Stomachs. 

There  is  not  much  doubt  but  that  wool  balls  in  lambs' 
stomachs  are  often  due  to  the  presence  of  ticks  or  other  ver- 
min which  at  times  invests  the  lamb's  body.  The  irritation 
caused  by  these  pests  causes  the  lambs  to  bite  themselves, 
small  particles  of  wool  are  taken  into  the  mouth,  and  the 
wool  finds  its  way  into  their  stomachs.  Then,  again,  no  doubt 
wool  balls  are  sometimes  caused  by  a  depraved  appetite  due 
to  derangement  of  the  digestive  organs  or  apparatus. 
Further,  they  may  be  caused  by  the  lamb  getting  wool  from 
the  ewe  when  sucking  her.  When  a  lamb  is  suffering  from 
this  trouble  it  usually  refuses  its  food  and  appears  very  dull 
and  stupid. 

Lambs  of  the  long-wooled  breeds  suffer  more  from  this 
trouble  than  either  the  medium  or  fine-wooled  sheep. 
Whilst  frequent  doses  of  linseed  oil  will  sometimes  relieve 
the  little  sufferer,  cures  are  like  angels'  visits — few  and  far 
between. 


P 

3  = 


8| 


3s 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET      11$ 

Stretches. 

When  a  sheep  is  seen  to  suddenly  fall  down,  lay  on  its. 
side,  and  stretch  itself  out  at  full  length  it  is  said  to  be  suf- 
fering from  the  stretches.  This  trouble  is  a  species  of  indi- 
gestion which  is  generally  brought  about  through  lack  of 
succulent  rations.  Stretches  are  rarely  met  with  in  a  flock 
where  roots  are  freely  used.  The  novice,  or  young  shep- 
herd, may  easily  mistake  this  trouble  for  a  case  of  yeaning, 
the  symptoms  being  somewhat  similar.  The  best  remedy 
I  have  yet  tried  for  stretches  is  melted  lard.  For  an  adult 
sheep  about  one-quarter  of  a  pxmnd  is  the  right  quantity  to- 

use.     Use  a  drenching-bottle  or  a  tablespoon  in  administer- 
ing the  dose. 

Navel  111. 

This  complaint  is  not  nearly  so  prevalent  in  this  country 
as  it  is  in  England.  I  can  only  account  for  this  from  the 
fact  that  the  lambs  are  more  liable  to  come  in  contact  with 
mud,  filth,  etc.,  in  the  English  fold  than  they  are  in  the  barn 
and  yards  in  this  country,  which  condition  makes  it  favor- 
able for  the  work  of  bacilli.  The  best  remedy  for  navel  ill 
is  a  little  powdered  bluestone  put  on  the  wound;  this  will 
kill  the  germ,  the  wound  will  quickly  dry  up  and  a  cure  will 
be  effected.  If  applied  as  soon  as  the  first  symptoms  of 
trouble  are  noticed  the  cure  will,  of  course,  be  more  rapid. 

Garget. 

Garget,  in  some  seasons,  is  very  prevalent  in  the  flock  and 
the  cause  of  much  trouble  to  the  shepherd,  while  in  others 
little  trouble  is  experienced.  The  American  shepherd  has 


174  FITTING  SHEEP 


much  to  be  thankful  for  considering  the  small  number  of 
cases  of  this  kind  he  has  to  deal  with  as  compared  to  what 
the  English  shepherd  has  to  contend  with  in  a  season.  A 
considerable  number  of  cases  of  garget  are  no  doubt  brought 
about  through  the  ewes  lying  on  the  damp  ground  in  cold 
weather.  Another  sure  cause  of  garget  is  the  allowing  of 
ewes  to  go  unattended  to  when  having  lost  their  offspring. 
It  is  usually  the  best  milking  ewes  that  are  either  ruined  or 
lost  from  this  trouble. 

Ewes,  when  found  to  be  attacked  with  garget,  should  be 
at  once  given  some  opening  medicine,  preferably  a  dose  of 
Epsom  Salts,  and  the  udder  should  be  bathed  with  warm 
water  into  which  an  ounce  of  ordinary  cooking  soda  has 
been  added.  After  the  udder  has  been  thoroughly  dried 
with  a  coarse  towel  or  something  of  that  kind,  it  should  be 
dressed  with  a  mixture  of  lard  and  turpentine,  or  common 
ca*mphorated  oil,  preferably  the  first  named. 

In  the  case  of  abcesses  forming  they  should  be  carefully 
opened  and  the  wounds  thoroughly  washed  out  with  a  car- 
bolic acid  solution,  or  any  other  good  antiseptic  wash. 

Of  course  the  offspring  must  be  taken  away  from  a  ewe 
that  is  suffering  from  this  trouble. 

Ewes  Casting  Their  Withers. 

When  the  womb  or  "lamb  bag"  of  a  ewe  comes  out  she 
is  said  (to  use  the  oldtime  shepherds'  phrase)  to  have  "cast 
her  withers."  In  replacing  a  ewe's  withers  the  greatest 
care  must  be  observed  that  they  are  thoroughly  cleansed  of 
all  foreign  matter,  such  as  dirt,  straw,  etc.  I  have  always 
found  it  easier  to  perform  this  work  with  the  help  of  an 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  175 

assistant,  who  lays  the  ewe  on  her  back  and  then  taking  her 
hind  legs  he  gently  raises  her  hind  parts  about  a  foot  from 
the  ground,  thereby  greatly  facilitating  ease  in  getting  the 
organs  back  into  their  proper  places.  As  soon  as  they  are 
replaced  the  shepherd  should  take  a  leather  band,  fasten  it 
around  the  sheep  just  back  of  the  forelegs  and  then  take 
another  and  fix  it  in  such  a  position  that  it  will  reach  from 
one  side  of  the  ewe  clear  around  her  stern  and  fasten  again 
on  the  other  side;  a  support  should  be  provided  by  tying  a 
strap  or  cord  over  the  hips  to  hold  this  up.  This  being 
done,  take  a  pint  of  water  and  put  into  it  about  a  teaspoonful 
of  finely  pulverized  alum  and  two  teaspoonfuls  of  sugar; 
then  thoroughly  dissolve  and  inject  with  a  syringe  into  the 
womb.  This  should  be  repeated  twice  daily.  The  mix- 
ture should  be  warm  when  injected. 

Scab. 

Scab  is  a  terrible  disease,  one  which  has  probably  caused 
more  worry  and  loss  to  the  world's  flockmasters  than  all 
other  diseases  combined.  Unfortunately  the  disease  is  not 
peculiar  to  any  one  country,  but  is  found  working  its  rav- 
ages more  or  less  in  all  countries  where  sheep  are  found. 
Although  legislation  has  been  resorted  to  and  money  has 
flowed  like  water  from  the  exchequers  of  the  various  gov- 
ernments which  have  seen  fit  to  treat  this  disease  as  a  serious 
national  affair,  the  disease  is  yet  a  long  way  from  being  one 
which  we  may  call  of  rare  occurrence.  Although  England 
is,  comparatively,  a  very  small  country  and  the  laws  as  applied 
to  scab  and  other  contagious  diseases  very  severe  and  al- 
ways rigidly  enforced,  still  the  disease  is  quite  common  even 


176  FITTING  SHEEP 


in  that  country.  Australia,  New  Zealand,  Tasmania,  South 
Africa,  all  have  had  their  troubles  in  grappling  with  this 
terrible  disease.  Then  our  own  great  country  has  had  an 
•experience  along  this  line  which  has  been  anything  but 
pleasant.  True,  legislation  has  come  to  the  aid  of  flock- 
tnasters,  but  it  is  certain  that  the  lime  and  sulphur  decoc- 
tions, such  as  are  recommended  by  the  officials  in  charge, 
-are  not  doing  the  work  that  a  good  dip  is  expected  to  do  in 
eradicating  the  pest  from  the  animal  and  leaving  its  fleece 
and  skin  in  a  healthy  and  desirable  condition. 

When  a  sheep  is  attacked  with  the  scab  mite  it  becomes  ex- 
ceedingly restless  and  soon  becomes  a  most  abject  speci- 
men of  the  woolly  tribe — indeed,  is  the  very  picture  of  mis- 
ery. In  its  endeavors  to  rid  itself  of  the  tormenting  pest 
it  bites  its  sides,  scratches  itself  with  its  hind-feet,  and  other- 
wise acts  strangely  in  endeavoring  to  relieve  itself  of  its 
tormentor.  The  disease  usually  first  makes  its  appearance 
along  the  sides  of  the  animal,  eventually  extending  to  the 
neck  and  back,  in  fact  it  rapidly  spreads  all  over  its  body. 
A  sheep  that  is  attacked  with  scab,  if  rubbed  on  or  in  the 
neighborhood  of  where  the  scab  mite  has  taken  up  its  abode, 
will  show  its  appreciation  by  moving  its  lips  and  even  nib- 
bling the  hand  of  the  operator,  as  if  thanking  him  for  afford- 
ing the  relief. 

Scab  is  a  disease  of  a  highly  contagious  nature,  and  one 
that  must  be  treated  promptly  and  thoroughly  as  soon 
as  it  is  known  to  exist.  The  first  thing  to  do  is  to 
•dip  every  sheep  on  the  farm,  or  ranch,  as  the  case  may  be. 
Dip  them  thoroughly;  don't  dip  them  as  if  you  wanted  the 
job  hurried  over  and  out  of  the  way,  but  dip  them  as  if  you 
were  determined  to  eradicate  the  pest  if  thoroughness  and 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  ,          177 

method  counts  for  anything  in  dipping.  What  should  we 
use?  Any  of  the  proprietary  dips  made  have,  no  doubt,  their 
merits  over  the  deadly  lime  and  sulphur  decoctions  recom- 
mended and  used  by  some.  It  is  highly  important  that  every 
individual  sheep  be  thoroughly  dipped  and  all  surrounding 
fences,  the  inside  and  outside  of  the  barn  or  anything  that 
it  has  been  possible  for  the  sheep  to  rub  themselves  against 
be  sprayed  with  a  good  disinfectant.  The  same  kind  of  dip- 
that  will  kill  the  scab  mite  on  the  sheep  will  make  a  good 
and  cheap  disinfectant.  Apply  with  a  good  spraying  ma- 
chine. After  the  elapse  of  about  ten  days  from  the  time  the 
sheep  were  first  dipped,  dip  again  thoroughly. 

Don't  on  any  account  spare  time  or  money  to  make  your 
work  a  success  if  you  wish  to  save  your  flock.  The  great 
secret  in  dealing  with  scab  is  to  deal  with  it  thoroughly  at 
the  start.  After  you  have  thoroughly  mastered  the  enemy 
make  your  work  as  efficacious  as  possible  by  whitewashing 
the  barns  and  fences. 

Tapeworms. 

I  have  often  been  questioned  by  farmers  relative  to  what 
the  little  white,  oblong,  fleshy-looking  particles  are  that  are 
sometimes  to  be  seen  in  the  sheep's  manure.  While  most  of 
us  know  what  they  are,  still  there  are  a  good  many  that  do 
not  know  that  these  are  segments  of  the  tapeworm. 

One  drachm  of  oil  of  male  shield  fern  given  in  about  two- 
ounces  of  castor  oil,  after  the  sheep  has  been  fasted  for  twelve 
hours,  is  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  effective  remedies 
for  this  trouble. 


178  FITTING  SHEEP 


Inflamation  of  the  Eyes. 

Most  people  who  have  had  the  least  experience  with  sheep 
have  at  some  time  met  cases  where  sheep  or  lambs  have 
been  suffering  from  inflammation  of  the  eyes  or,  as  it  is 
scientifically  known  as  ophthalmia.  Quite  often  it  is  difficult 
for  the  shepherd  to  correctly  determine  the  true  cause  of  this 
trouble.  It  sometimes  breaks  out  in  epidemic  form.  The 
most  common  cause  of  this  disease  is  exposure  to  cold  winds 
and  draughts.  When  a  lamb  is  attacked  it  generally  becomes 
partially  or  totally  blind.  That  this  disease  causes  great 
pain  to  the  little  sufferers  is  evinced  by  the  way  it  affects 
them.  A  zinc  lotion  is  the  most  useful  remedy  in  treating 
cases  of  this  kind.  The  best  way  of  procuring  this  is  to  get 
t  your  druggist  to  prepare  it  for  you  just  as  he  would  prepare 
it  for  use  if  for  family  use. 

Quidders. 

This  is  the  name  by  which  sheep  that  drop  their  "quid" 
are  known.  Quidding  is  sometimes  caused  by  a  defection 
of  the  animal's  teeth,  but  more  often  by  indigestion.  When 
a  sheep  is  suffering  from  this  trouble  it  will  be  seen  to  drop 
a  small  ball  of  partially  masticated  food  from  its  mouth.  It 
is  rarely  that  a  complete  cure  of  this  trouble  is  brought 
about.  I  have  used  the  following  remedy  with  varying  re- 
sults, but  to  be  honest,  hardly  ever  has  a  cure  followed  its 
use:  Administer  a  dose  of  Epsom  Salts  and  supply  the  ani- 
mal with  food  only  of  a  succulent  nature.  When  a  sheep 
is  found  to  be  suffering  from  trouble  of  this  nature  it  should 
be  fattened,  if  possible,  and  sent  to  the  market,  as  it  is  very 
rarely  that  they  prove  profitable  as  breeders.  Where  a 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.       181 

flock  has  had  poor  treatment  and  been  fed  irregulany  cases 
such  as  these  are  most  pervalent. 

Joint=Evil. 

Joint-evil  is  a  disease  closely  allied  to  rheumatism.  It  is 
a  disease  peculiar  to  young  lambs,  and  is  often  brought 
about  by  exposure  to  draughts  in  poorly  built  or  dilapidated 
barns.  Sometimes  they  will  be  attacked  so  severely  that 
abscesses  will  form  in  their  joints,  causing  no  end  of  suffering 
to  the  helpless  creature  and  trouble  to  the  shepherd.  Where 
snug,  but  of  course  well-ventilated  barns,  and  proper  care 
on  the  part  of  the  shepherd  is  in  evidence  lambs  do  not  often 
suffer  from  this  trouble.  An  embrocation  of  lard  and  tur- 
pentine makes  one  of  the  best  remedies  for  this  trouble  that 
I  have  ever  used  for  this  disease.  In  preparing  it  sufficient 
turpentine  should  be  used  to  make  it  about  the  consistency 
of  good  cream.  After  thoroughly  rubbing  the  embrocation 
well  into  the  affected  parts  they  should  be  well  bandaged. 
I  have  tried  many  remedies  recommended  by  veterinarians, 
but  none  appeared  to  have  such  a  beneficial  effect  as  the  one 
I  recommend  above.  In  England  it  is  thought  to  be  a  dis- 
ease closely  allied  to  blood  poisoning.  I  have  found  that 
sheep  of  all  ages  seem  to  suffer  from  joint-evil  there,  but 
in  this  country  every  case  I  have  met  with  has  been  con- 
iined  to  very  young  lambs,  therefore  it  is  hard  for  me  to 
readily  take  the  English  view  of  the  matter. 

Diarrhoea. 

Diarrhoea  quickly  proves  fatal  where  the  animal  attacked 
is  not  promptly  attended  to.  This  trouble  is  usually  brought 


182  FITTING  SHEEP 


about  by  the  animal  partaking  to  freely  of  succulent  ra- 
tions. Frozen  rape  or  frozen  clover  is  also  a  sure  cause  of 
diarrhoea.  The  first  thing  to  do  in  a  case  of  diarrhoea  is  to- 
administer  a  dose  of  castor  oil,  after  which  give  one  dram  of 
laudanum,  one  dram  powdered  ginger,  and  prepared  chalk, 
twelve  drams.  Dry  rations  of  a  poor  quality  should  be 
given  the  sufferer  until  a  change  takes  place. 

Tumors. 

There  are  few  people  having  had  experience  with  sheep> 
but  what  have  seen  them  suffering,  more  or  less,  from  smalt 
tumors  in  the  throat.  Sometimes  these  are  the  true  symp- 
toms of  tuberculosis,  and  it  is  highly  undesirable  to  retain 
sheep  in  the  flock  showing  troubles  of  this  nature.  The 
tumors  should  be  opened  and  washed  out  with  a  rather 
strong  solution  of  carbolic  acid.  After  having  been  well 
washed  out  a  little  ball  of  wool  should  be  inserted  in  the 
wound  to  keep  it  open  so  that  the  pus  or  matter  may  escape 
freely. 

Caked  Udder. 

Caked  udder  is  frequently  the  cause  of  considerable  anxiety 
and  no  little  trouble  to  the  shepherd.  It  is  a  trouble  rarely 
found  among  the  poorer  milkers  of  the  flock,  but  quite  often, 
among  the  good  ones.  Cases  of  caked  udder  often  develop- 
directly  after  weaning  and  are,  in  many  cases,  chargeable 
in  a  great  measure,  to  the  carelessness  of  the  shepherd,  or 
the  one  in  charge,  in  not  giving  the  attention  needed  at 
that  particular  time.  Sometimes  after  we  have  satisfied  our- 
selves that  a  case  of  caked  udder  is  cured  we  find  the  orifice 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  183 

of  the  teat  closed  and  of  course  that  organ  rendered  useless. 
With  the  use  of  liniments,  however,  the  teat  may  sometimes 
foe  started  again;  when  this  fails  to  effect  a  cure  the  use  of 
the  milking  tube  may  bring  about  the  desired  effect.  Gen- 
erally, however,  when  a  ewe  is  found  to  be  badly  injured 
from  such  a  cause  it  is  found  best  to  fatten  her  and  sell  her 
for  butchering  purposes.  One  of  the  best  liniments  we  can 
use  in  the  case  of  caked  udder  is  composed  of  lard  and  tur- 
pentine mixed  to  the  consistency  of  good  cream.  This 
should  be  well  rubbed  in  three  times  daily;  each  time  this 
operation  is  being  performed  the  operator  should  try  the 
teat  to  see  if  the  orifice  is  clear. 

Abortion. 

There  are  many  causes  for  this  trouble;  prominent  among 
them  being  crowding  the  ewes  through  narrow  doorways; 
turning  them  up  for  the  purpose  of  dressing  their  feet,  and 
improper  feeding,  such  as  feeding  frozen  turnips,  etc.  Con- 
siderabe  loss  has  been  known  to  arise  from  the  ewes  eating 
too  much  salt;  this,  of  course,  only  happens  when  the  ewes 
have  not  been  regularly  and  properly  salted. 

When  a  ewe  appears  dull  and  stupid  and  isolates  herself 
from  the  flock,  upon  examination  she  will  almost  invariably 
foe  found  to  have  either  aborted  or  has  a  dead  lamb  within 
lier.  Where  the  ewe  becomes  injured  within  a  week  or  two 
previous  to  the  time  she  should  lamb,  and  the  lambs  or  lamb 
<lie  within  her,  there  is  great  danger  of  losing  her,  unless 
attended  to  at  once.  When  the  lambs  are  not  promptly  re- 
moved, blood  poisoning  usually  sets  in,  and  of  course, 
<leath  quickly  follows  in  its  wake;  therefore,  it  is  imperative 
that  just  as  soon  as  the  shepherd  is  satisfied  that  a  ewe  has 


184  FITTING  SHEEP 


dead  lambs  in  her  he  should  lose  no  time  in  removing  them_ 

If  the  shepherd  has  cuts  or  wounds  of  any  kind  on  his 
hands  he  should  refrain  from  performing  the  operation  him- 
self, for  if  blood  poison  is  in  evidence  serious  results  may 
follow  such  a  course. 

Before  attempting  to  relieve  the  ewe  the  operator  should 
carefully  trim  his  fingernails  to  avoid  injury  to  the  womb. 
He  should  also  anoint  his  hands  with  some  lubricant  of  an 
antiseptic  nature,  such  as  carbolized  oil,  carbolized  vaseline,, 
or  carbolic  soap. 

When  relieving  the  ewe  of  a  dead  lamb  the  operator  should 
study  her  comfort  as  much  as  possible.  It  is  usually  more 
handy  to  have  her  lying  on  her  back  when  taking  the  lamb 
from  her,  but  where  the  operation  is  necessarily  slowly  per- 
formed, her  position  should  be  changed  once  in  a  while  so 
as  to  rest  her.  It  is  important  that  the  operator  does  not 
attempt  to  pull  the  lamb  away,  only  in  sympathy  with  the 
exertions  of  the  ewe  to  eject  it,  or  in  other  words,  he  should 
pull  only  when  the  ewe  strains. 

Sometimes  the  lamb  is  more  easily  removed  by  taking  its 
intestines  out  as  jt  lays  in  the  womb,  after  which  its  legs 
can  be  easily  removed  by  getting  hold  of  the  blade  bones  by- 
putting  the  hand  inside  the  lamb  and  skinning  them  out  of 
its  body,  as  it  were.  By  forcing  the  finger  through  the  under 
]aw  of  the  lamb  a  good,  firm  hold  is  obtained  which  aids 
much  in  getting  it  away  successfully.  Slipping  a  piece  of 
cord  with  a  running  noose  over  the  under  jaw  or  the  foot 
of  the  lamb  also  gives  the  operator  a  good  purchase.  Vio- 
lence must  be  avoided  in  performing  this  operation  or  the 
ewe  will  almost  surely  succumb.  Where  the  time  occupied 
in  relieving  the  ewe  is  somewhat  protracted,  stimulants. 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  185 

should  be  administered.  While  the  taking  away  of  a  live 
lamb  from  a  ewe  is,  comparatively,  an  easy  matter,  that  of 
taking  away  a  dead  one  is  usually  a  very  difficult  one  to 
perform. 

Occasionally,  abortion  makes  its  appearanace  in  epidemic 
form,  but  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten  this  is  the  result  of  im- 
proper feeding.  It  is  always  well  to  remove  ewes  that  have 
aborted  from  the  main  flock  and  the  foetus  or  dead  lamb  be 
either  burned  or  buried,  as  there  is  no  doubt  but  what  there 
sometimes  exists  a  type  of  abortion  in  the  flock  that  is 
liighly  contagious. 

After  a  ewe  has  been  relieved  of  dead  lambs  she  should 
receive  warm  carbolic  solution  injections  twice  a  day.  It 
is  important  that  the  placenta  or  "cleaning"  be  removed  as 
•soon  as  the  ewe  is  relieved  of  the  dead  lamb,  otherwise  the 
<ewe  will  become  very  weak  and  very  likely  die  from  exces- 
sive straining  while  endeavoring  to  relieve  herself. 

Lice. 

Where  the  dipping  of  sheep  is  neglected  they  not  only  be- 
come covered  with  ticks,  but  oftentimes  with  lice  also.  These 
parasites  are  a  constant  drain  on  the  system  of  the  sheep 
and  it  is  highly  important  that  they  be  destroyed  by  dipping. 
It  is  not  good  policy  to  allow  chickens  to  run  at  large  in 
the  sheep  barn,  as  the  sheep  will  very  likely  suffer  more  or 
less  from  the  vermin  that  are  usually  found  in  their  com- 
pany. 

The  Sheep  Tick. 

It  seems  remarkable  in  this  day  of  enlightment,  when 
cheap  and  effectual  proprietary  dips  are  scattered  broadcast 


186  FITTING  SHEEP 


over  the  land,  as  it  were,  that  ticks  should  be  allowed  to> 
work  such  ravages  among  the  flocks  of  our  country.  There 
is  no  doubt  but  that  thousands  of  dollars  are  lost  annually 
by  our  flockmasters  by  allowing  this  pest  to  "live  and  wax 
fat"  on  their  flocks.  No  sheep  can  possibly  thrive  when 
covered  with  ticks.  The  tick  is  by  no  means  a  difficult  thing 
to  get  rid  of,  two  thorough  dippings,  one  in  the  spring  and 
the  other  in  the  fall,  will  act  both  as  a  preventative  and 
cure  of  this  trouble.  Oftentimes  shepherds — I  mean  sheep- 
keepers — find,  upon  shearing  their  sheep  in  the  spring,  that 
they  are  covered  with  ticks  as  thick  as  leaves  in  Vallom- 
brosa.  This  should  not  be  where  the  shepherd  has  the 
least  regard  for  the  comfort  of  his  flock.  Do  not  be  guilty 
of  keeping  fowls  among  the  flock  as  advocated  by  some 
authors,  as  this  is  entirely  against  the  common  accepted  rules, 
of  up-to-date  practical  shepherding.  No  modern  shepherd 
will  allow  a  fowl  of  any  kind  near  the  sheep  barn.  The 
reason  is  obvious  when  we  consider  that  sheep  must  have 
their  hay-racks,  feed  troughs,  etc.,  scrupulously  clean,  to  say 
nothing  of  annoyance  of  the  fowls  eating  of  the  sheep's 
grain,  and  chicken  lice  overrunning  the  place.  Dipping  is. 
the  only  reliable  way  of  eradicating  ticks  or  other  vermin, 
that  sheep  are  prey  to.  Dipping  in  lime  and  sulphur  decoc- 
tions will,  no  doubt,  kill  ticks,  but  still  no  modern  shep- 
herd will  use  or  recommend  such  a  mixture,  as  lime  must 
be  very  injurious  to  the  skin  and  fleece,  being  that  depila- 
tories are  largely  made  up  of  the  former-named  article. 

Footrot. 

Foot-rot  is  a  terrible  disease  to  have  in  a  flock  of  sheep. 
Where  it  has  been  allowed  to  run  rampant  for  any  consid- 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  187 

arable  time  on  a  farm  without  being  effectually  checked  the 
whole  premises  are  liable  to  become  so  thoroughly  impreg- 
nated with  the  germs  of  the  disease  as  to  render  them  al- 
most impossible  to  completely  eradicate  it,  even  where  the 
most  thorough  measures  are  practiced  to  bring  about  a 
desirable  issue;  it  usually  means  a  hard  and  continuous 
fight  to  keep  it  under.  It  is,  comparatively,  a  very  easy 
matter  to  take  a  sheep  that  has  one  or  every  foot  literally 
rotten  with  the  disease  and  with  a  few  careful  but  thorough 
•dressings  with  some  suitable  composition  to  effect  a  cure 
in  a  wonderfully  short  time.  But  this  does  not  mean  the 
worst  part  of  the  trouble  is  overcome.  It  is  the  preventing 
of  the  trouble  continually  breaking  out  anew  that  worries 
the  life  and  patience  out  of  the  shepherd.  After  a  dry  spell 
lie  will  be  congratulating  himself  that  he  has  not  a  lame 
-sheep  on  the  place,  but  upon  stormy  weather  coming  along 
•disappointment  comes  too,  for  the  whole  flock  may  be  limp- 
ing from  the  horrible  disease  ere  a  week  has  elapsed. 

I  will  guarantee  a  perfect  cure  of  the  worst  case  of  foot- 
rot  where  the  affected  animals  are  treated  as  I  advise  in  the 
following  lines,  but  I  do  not  guarantee  to  bring  about  the 
'complete  eradication  of  the  disease  from  the  flock  unless  after 
the  feet  have  been  patched  up  and  disinfected  the  sheep  are 
removed  to  pasture  where  foot-rot  has  never  existed. 

The  first  essential  in  battling  with  foot-rot  is  that  the  shep- 
lierd  cast  aside  sentiment,  and  with  a  very  keen  knife  cut 
•deep  down  into  the  seat  of  the  disease.  Cut  every  particle 
of  diseased  or  loose  hoof  away.  If  the  hoof  appears  sound 
and  still  the  sheep  be  lame,  cut  into  the  hoof  until  blood  or 
matter  comes;  search  for  matter,  and  don't  give  up  seeking 
for  it  until  you  have  found  it,  if  the  animal  is  lame.  Cut 


188  FITTING  SHEEP 


and  scrape  every  particle  of  any  foul  matter.  Although  it 
is  not  so  well  to  cut  so  deep  as  to  draw  blood,  don't  let  the 
sight  of  blood  bar  you  from  thoroughly  doing  your  work, 
for  just  as  long  as  there  is  a  particle  of  pus  or  foul  matter 
remaining  untouched  by  the  acids  I  advocate  using  further 
on,  no  hope  of  a  healthy  foot  can  be  entertained.  One  great 
point  the  operator  should  observe,  however,  is  not  to  cut 
the  "toe  vein"  or  the  blood  will  spurt  out  in  a  stream  and 
greatly  interfere  with  the  work  of  cleansing  the  foot.  The 
"toe  vein"  is  situated  at  the  tip  of  the  toe.  After  a  thorough 
paring  and  cleaning  the  foot  of  foul  matter  apply  thoroughly 
one  of  the  violent  but  effectual  remedies  I  shall  treat  of 
below: 

Blue  vitriol,  butyr  of  antimony  and  muriatic  acid,  equal 
parts  by  weight,  forms  a  dressing  that  will  dry,  harden  and 
knock  the  disease  out  of  the  most  rotten  foot  in  about  a 
week.  Red  lead,  blue  vitriol  and  nitric  acid,  equal  parts, 
mixed,  will  fix  the  worst  case  of  foot-rot  at  one  dressing,  if 
thoroughly  applied.  As  soon  as  the  foot  is  dry  and  hard 
anoint  it  with  tar;  this  will  make  the  hoof  pliable  and  healthy. 

Grub  in  the  Head. 

It  may  read  a  little  curious  to  my  readers  when  I  say  that 
I  have  found  more  of  these  pests  in  the  heads  of  apparently 
healthy  sheep  than  I  have  seen  in  diseased  ones.  In  the 
slaughtering  of  sheep  having  horns  it  is  usual,  after  they 
have  been  stuck  and  life  is  extinct,  to  chop  their  horns  off 
close  to  the  head.  Upon  the  cavity  at  the  base  of  the  horn 
being  exposed  to  view  I  have,  on  many  occasions,  taken 
from  this  cavity  a  large,  fat,  white,  or  pale  yellow  worm 
resembling  in  every  way  the  so-called  grub-worm.  I  have 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.     191 

also  killed  many  sheep  suffering  from  gid,  or  in  other  words, 
sheep  that  were  giddy,  or  unable  to  stand,  and  who  acted 
very  much  like  a  person  badly  intoxicated,  but  have  in  many 
cases  found  no  worms  in  their  heads,  but  in  the  place  of 
worms  a  small  bladder  containing  water. 

Without  the  operation  known  as  trepanning  I  cannot 
clearly  see  how  the  grub  can  be  dislodged  from  its  habitat. 
I  have  made  many  attempts  at  doctoring  sheep  suffering 
from  gid  or  grub  in  the  head,  but  have  never  yet  succeeded 
in  saving  one. 

If  the  sheep  attacked  be  in  good  flesh  I  should  advocate 
slaughtering  same  for  use,  as  the  grub  in  the  head  cannot 
possibly  do  any  harm  to  the  flesh  of  the  animal,  provided 
it  is  killed  before  the  nervous  system  becomes  badly  de- 
ranged. 

Bloat. 

Bloat  is  generally  brought  about  by  the  sheep  eating  too 
freely  of  succulent  rations  such  as  rape,  clover,  etc.,  espe- 
cially when  heavily  charged  with  moisture  either  from  rain 
or  heavy  dews.  Frozen  rape,  or  clover,  is  also  a  cause  of 
bloat.  When  suffering  from  this  trouble,  sheep  appear  un- 
comfortable and  their  stomachs  become  abnormally  dis- 
tended, especially  on  the  left  side. 

The  shepherd  should  always  carry  with  him  a  trocar  with 
which  he  may  "tap"  an  animal  that  has  become  "blown"  or 
bloated.  This  should  be  inserted  at  the  most  prominent 
point,  or  where  the  stomach  is  most  distended,  which  will 
be  on  the  left  side.  It  is  most  important  that  the  trocar  be 
inserted  in  such  a  way  as  to  avoid  striking  the  kidneys  of 
the  animal;  danger  from  this  being  greatest  where  the  ani- 


192  FITTING  SHEFP 


mal  is  fat  and  the  kidneys  large.  After  an  animal  has  been 
"tapped"  it  should  receive  a  dose  of  linseed  oil.  Where  the 
attack  is  not  a  violent  one  a  dram  of  hypo-sulphite  of  soda, 
a  dram  of  ginger  and  three  drams  of  spirits  of  ammonia 
mixed  will  quickly  effect  a  cure.  In  cases  of  this  kind  the 
use  of  the  trocar  can,  of  course,  be  dispensed  with. 

Broken  Limbs. 

Although  not  common,  cases  of  broken  limbs  do  some- 
times occur  in  the  flock.  Sheep  suffering  from  broken 
limbs  should  be  kept  where  they  can  remain  free  from  moles- 
tation by  the  other  members  of  the  flock. 

The  first  thing  to  be  done  in  the  case  of  a  broken  limb  is 
to  "set  it,"  that  is,  the  bones  should  Jbe  placed  in  proper 
position  just  as  soon  as  possible  after  the  shepherd  has  no- 
ticed what  is  wrong.  As  soon  as  the  bone  is  in  proper  posi- 
tion take  a  piece  of  cardboard  and  after  placing  same  around 
the  broken  limb  wrap  a  strong  linen  bandage  around  this. 
If  the  bandage  is  dipped  into  starch  previously  to  being 
wrapped  around  the  cardboard  it  will  be  more  effective. 

Urinary  Troubles  of  Rams. 

Stoppage  of  the  water  is  a  very  common  trouble  among 
rams.  It  is  oftentimes  brought  about  through  their  eating  of 
foods  of  a  highly  nitrogeneous  nature;  such  as  corn,  peas, 
etc.  Mangels  are  also  responsible  for  the  bringing  about  of 
stoppages  of  the  urinary  organs  or  passages. 

When  a  ram  is  attacked  with  stoppage  of  the  water  he 
refuses  his  food,  pants,  groans,  stamps  his  feet  and  strains 
violently  in  attempting  to  relieve  himself  of  the  pent-up 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  193 

fluid.  Where  the  cause  is  not  quickV  removed  and  relief 
brought  about  death  will  most  assuredly  result  from  his 
system  becoming  poisoned  by  the  absorption  of  urine. 

I  once  cured  a  very  bad  case  of  this  kind  by  administering 
a  dose  of  Epsom  Salts,  followed  by  a  dose  of  sweet  nitre 
given  in  gruel,  and  after  the  elapse  of  three  hours  the  admin- 
istration of  eight  grains  of  belladonna.  This  trouble  is  quite 
common  with  show  rams. 

Colic. 

Colic  is  distinguishable  from  stretches  in  that  the  animal 
in  lying  down  groans  and  grinds  its  teeth  in  the  place  of 
stretching  itself  out  at  full  length  and  acting  as  if  trying  to. 
get  on  its  back  for  relief.  Colic  is  usually  caused  by  the  ani- 
mal partaking  too  freely  of  succulent  rations,  especially 
frozen  rape,  clover  and  such  like.  Unless  quickly  relieved 
inflammation  sets  in  and  the  animal  quickly  succumbs.  Re- 
lief is  brought  about  by  administering  one  dram  of  laudanum 
and  one  dram  of  powdered  ginger  in  flaxseed  tea. 

Rupture. 

Ewes  heavy  in  lamb  are  sometimes  the  victims  of  rupture, 
or  hernia.  When  a  case  of  this .  occurs  a  strong,  broad 
bandage  should  be  placed  around  the  patient  in  such  a  posi- 
tion as  to  support  the  ruptur 

Just  as  soon  as  the  offspring  is  weaned  she  should  be  fed 
and  turned  into  mutton. 

Sore  Teats. 

When  ewes  are  not  good  milkers  they  are  very  liable  to 
suffer  from  sore  teats,  caused  by  the  efforts  of  the  offspring 


194        FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET. 

biting  them  in  endeavoring  to  obtain  sufficient  nourishment 
Sometimes  the  teats  become  so  sore  that  the  ewe  absolutely 
refuses  to  allow  her  lamb  to  suck.  In  a  case  of  this  kind 
the  ewe  and  lamb  should  be  penned  up,  but  in  such  a  way 
that  the  lamb  can  suck  only  at  certain  intervals  during  the 
day — say,  three  times  a  day.  If  this  plan  is  followed,  and 
the  teat  anointed  with  vaseline  directly  after  the  lamb  has 
got  all  the  milk  the  ewe  has,  a  cure  will  soon  be  effected. 

How  to  Bleed  a  Sheep. 

In  certain  diseases  to  which  sheep  are  subjected,  such  as 
apoplexy,  overheating,  etc.,  bleeding  is,  without  doubt,  of 
the  utmost  value  and  benefit,  and  many  a  good  sheep  has 
been  saved  by  being  bled  when  suffering  from  disorders  of 
the  nature  of  the  above-mentioned.  Every  shepherd  should 
carry  with  him  either  a  thumb  lancet  or  a  set  of  fleams  (see 
illustration),  with  which  he  may  bleed  any  sheep  which  he 
considers  would  be  benefited  by  bleeding.  The  first  thing  to 
do  when  bleeding  a  sheep  is  to  "swell"  the  vein.  This  is  ac- 
complished by  tying  a  cord  around  the  animal's  neck.  This 
cord,  when  properly  adjusted,  prevents  the  circulation  of  the 
blood  through  the  veins*  in  the  ordinary  course  intended  by 
nature.  Just  as  soon  as  the  vein  is  opened  the  blood  spurts 
out,  and  if  the  cord  is  allowed  to  remain  on  the  animal's  neck 
it  quickly  bleeds  to  death,  but  upon  the  cord  being  loosened 
the  bleeding  immediately  stops,  as  there  is  nothing  to  inter- 
fere with  the  natural  circulation  of  the  blood.  The  novice 
should  shear  off  that  portion  of  the  wool  that  grows  directly 
over  the  vein  of  the  neck,  as  it  will  give  him  a  better  facil- 
ity for  opening  it.  As  soon  as  he  is  sure  of  the  location 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET      197 

of  the  vein  he  should  take  the  smallest  of  the  set  of  fleams, 
and  after  being  assured  that  the  point  is  well  on  the  vein, 
drive  it  into  it  with  a  smart  cutting  blow  from  a  short  stick 
similar  to  a  hammer  handle  or  something  of  that  kind  with 
which  he  should  be  provided  before  commencing  operations. 
If  he  manages  to  hit  the  vein  squarely  the  blood  will  spurt 
out  in  a  stream.  As  soon  as  he  is  assured  that  he  has  taken 
blood  enough  away  he  should  remove  the  cord  and  bleeding 
will  immediately  cease.  I  should  have  mentioned  that  the 
operator  should  make  it  a  point  to  open  the  vein  lengthways 
and  not  crossways,  as  it  will  be  found  necessary  to  pin  the 
orifice  of  the  wound  where  the  vein  is  opened  by  cutting  it 
in  the  last-mentioned  manner,  but  unnecessary  when  opened 
as  recommended. 

Nodular  Disease  of  the  Intestines. 

Nodular  disease  of  the  intestines  of  sheep  was  in  exist- 
ence among  our  flocks  long  before  serious  attention  was 
drawn  to  its  presence  by  scientists.  Although  it  is  now 
over  twenty  years  since  I  took  my  first  lesson  in  the  slaugh- 
terhouse, even  at  that  time  I  quite  often  noticed  those  cheesy 
looking  little  bunches  or  nodules  on  the  intestines  which 
characterizes  the  disease  now  known  as  nodular  disease. 
This  disease  was  not  at  that  time  thought  serious  of,  it  being 
quite  common  among  sheep  of  the  very  finest  quality,  in 
fact,  that  was  my  experience,  as  I  never  handled  any  other 
grade  in  all  my  experience  as  a  slaughterman;  it  is  now, 
however,  rated  among  the  most  deadly  diseases  to  which 
sheep  are  susceptible.  Previous  to  my  attention  being 
called  to  its  true  character  by  the  agricultural  press  of  this 


198  FITTING  SHEEP 


country  I  had  always  considered  this  phenomena  to  be  the 
result  of  a  violent  cold  the  animal  may  have  at  some  time 
been  suffering  from.  The  true  cause  of  this  disease  was 
brought  about  in  a  somewhat  novel  way.  Perhaps  it  may  not 
be  generally  known  that  a  small  "black  gut,"  as  the  smaller 
of  the  intestines  is  known  to  the  butcher,  was  before  the 
manufacture  of  the  artificial,  used  in  sausage  casing. 

Quite  often  these  casings  were  found  to  be  defective  or 
easily  broken,  and  were  quite  useless  for  the  purpose  for 
which  they  were  intended,  and  investigation  for  the  real  cause 
of  this  trouble  led  to  the  discovery  of  the  parasite  which  was 
responsible  for  that  condition  of  the  intestines,  now  known  as 
knotty  guts  or  nodular  disease  of  the  intestines.  That  sheep 
do  live  and  thrive  without  showing  the  least  symptoms  of 
the  presence  of  such  an  enemy  I  have  every  reason  to  be- 
lieve, for,  as  I  have  before  intimated,  I  have  quite  often 
found  them  existing  in  sheep  that  I  have  slaughtered  that 
in  every  way  appeared  healthy,  vigorous  and  strong;  and 
quite  a  number  of  those  sheep  that  I  have  killed  in  recent 
years  have  been  more  or  less  affected,  although  showing  no- 
symptoms  of  the  existence  of  this  disease.  Whether  or  not 
there  is  a  cure  for  the  trouble  I  am  at  present  unable  to  say, 
but  I  consider  it  to  be  an  exceedingly  difficult  disease  to 
treat,  and  there  is  little  hope  of  a  cure,  on  account  of  the 
situation  of  the  nodules  making  it  somewhat  difficult  for 
medicine  to  reach  the  seat  of  the  trouble. 

Hints  on  Making;  a  Post-Mortem  Examination. 

Every  shepherd  would  be  doing  an  exceeding  wise  thing 
if  he  would  make  it  a  point  to  open  and  make  a  thorough 
examination  of  every  sheep  that  dies,  excepting  those  from 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  199 

•a  contagious  disease.  He  will  thereby  get  a  pretty  correct 
idea  of  the  cause  of  the  animal's  death  and  will  gain  knowl- 
edge that  may  in  the  future  be  the  means  of  saving  the  lives 
of  animals  of  great  value. 

Although  not  absolutely  necessary  that  the  young  shep- 
herd should  be  versed  in  the  science  and  art  of  dissecting, 
he  should  have  sufficient  knowledge,  however,  in  this  re- 
spect, to  allow  of  his  opening  a  sheep  or  lamb  in  such  a 
way  and  manner  that  each  internal  organ  of  its  anatomy  will 
be  clearly  laid  open  to  view  and  inspection. 

Without  a  slight  knowledge  of  the  anatomy  of  the  animal 
he  is  working  in  the  dark,  even  in  such  trivial  matters  as 
knowing  where  to  examine  for  the  now  common  stomach 
^worrn.  It  is  surprising  how  many  people,  when  examin- 
ing the  stomach  of  a  sheep  for  worms,  overlook  or  fail  to 
find  its  home  or  habitat,  simply  because  they  take  the  fourth 
stomach  to  be  an  intestine  instead  of  a  stomach.  In  the 
half-tone  used  in  illustrating  this  article  is  a  mark  showing 
just  where  the  fourth  stomach  is  situated,  so  that  should  any 
of  my  readers  have  occasion  at  any  time  to  make  an  exam- 
ination for  the  dreaded  pest  they  may  strike  the  correct 
place  right  .off  without  trouble.  The  lamb  which  is  the  sub- 
ject of  the  illustration  above  mentioned  was  opened  in  the 
way  and  manner  that  I  recommend  and  describe  below. 

In  opening  a  sheep  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  post-mor- 
tem examination  of  it,  a  somewhat  different  method  is  used 
from  that  usually  employed  by  the  slaughterman  in  opening 
animals  when  dressing  them  for  the  market. 

Before  commencing  a  post-mortem  the  operator  should 
provide  himself  with  a  liquid  disinfectant  wherein  he  may 
•dip  his  hands  occasionally  as  a  safeguard  against  blood- 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.       201 

poisoning.     A   solution    of    carbolic   ?.cid    makes   a    splendid 
antiseptic  and  disinfectant  for  tnis  purpose. 

In  making  the  post-mortem  examination  instead  of  cutting 
the  sheep  down  throu^n  the  breast  and  belly  as  is  usual  in 
dressing  an  animal  to;  the  market  the  operator  lays  the  ani- 
mal on  its  back,  takes  one  of  the  hind  legs  in  his  hand  and 
with  his  knife  cuts  through  the  flesh  of  the  "groin,"  or  the 
inside  of  the  leg,  to  the  bone.  If  the  operator  has  pressed 
rather  heavily  on  the  leg  he  will  notice  that  his  knife  has 
managed  to  steer  in  the  exact  direction  where  the  thigh 
joint  lies.  This  should  be  dislocated  or  unjointed  and  laid 
on  the  ground.  Now  the  skin  should  be  removed  from  the 
side  with  one  or  two  passes  of  the  knife.  In  the  hands  of 
a  skillful  operator  the  whole  of  the  skin  along  the  animal's 
side  and  whole  shoulder  is  removed.  Of  course  none  but 
those  having  had  considerable  practice  along  this  line  are 
expected  to  accomplish  this  very  readily  at  first.  The  skin 
of  the  side  and  shoulder  being  loosened  and  allowed  to  lay 
on  the  ground,  the  whole  of  the  abdomen  is  laid  open.  Now, 
instead  of  opening  the  breast  bone  in  the  center,  as  the 
slaughterman  does  in  dressing  an  animal,  the  •  operator 
should  take  his  knife  and  cut  through  the  ribs  at  a  point 
about  an  inch  below  the  breast.  Here  the  bone  is  very  soft, 
being  little  more  than  a  soft  cartilage.  To  expose  the  cav- 
ity of  the  chest  it  is  necessary  that  the  whole  side  of  the 
ribs  be  disconnected  from  the  vertebrae,  or  backbone.  This 
is  very  easily  accomplished  by  cutting  down  through  the 
ribs,  taking  about  two  at  a  time,  in  the  exact  same  manner 
as  a  butcher  would  in  cutting  off  a  mutton  chop.  As  soon 
as  the  knife  reaches  the  backbone  the  operator  presses  hard 
on  the  ribs,  and  they  will  readily  leave  the  backbone  or 


202 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET. 


vertebrae.  In  the  case  of  young  lambs  the  whole  side  of 
ribs  can  be  broken  down  after  being  cut  once  down  through 
the  gristle  above  mentioned.  If  the  knife  be  run  along  the 
joints  where  they  join  the  backbone  the  ribs  will  be  found 
to  break  down  much  easier. 


LAMB  DRESSED  WITH  LONG  BACKSETS 


FITTING  SHEEP  FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.      205 


PART  VI. 

Slaughtering  and  Dressing  Sheep  and  Lambs  for  Market. 

HAT  appears  under  this  heading  is  the  outgrowth 
of  several  years'  practical  experience  by  the 
writer  in  the  slaughtering  and  dressing  of  sheep- 
and  lambs  intended  for  display  before  the  aristo- 
cratic patron  and  the  aristocratic  butcher  of 
both  this  and  the  old  country. 

In  England,  where  the  writer  spent  many  of 
his  youthful  days  as  a  "knight  of  the  cleaver,"  butchering,  as 
a  trade,  is  carried  on,  on  lines  bordering  perfection.  I  have 
never  yet  had  the  privilege  of  seeing  displayed  in  any  coun- 
try the  carcasses  of  animals  so  beautifully  dressed  as  those 
prepared  by  the  butchers  in  England,  the  elegant,  flowery, 
finished  style  of  dressing  approaching  a  real  work  of  art. 

The  reason  of  this  is  clearly  apparent  when  it  is  understood 
that  one  has  to  serve  a  two  or  three  years'  apprenticeship  to 
the  business  in  addition  to  the  payment  of  a  premium  of 
from  $250  to  $500  before  he  becomes  the  possessor  of  the 
countersign  that  passes  him  on  to  the  lucrative  employment 
with  an  up-to-date  purveyor  of  meat. 

The  writer  looks  back  with  fond  remembrance  and  pride 
to  the  time  when  at  the  age  of  20  he  held  the  position  of 
first  in  slaughterhouse  to  one  of  the  old  country's  most 
prominent  butchers. 


206  FITTING  SHEEP 


Whilst  it  is,  comparatively,  an  easy  matter  for  me  to  tell 
the  reader  how  to  respectably  dress  a  sheep  or  lamb  for  the 
market,  I  could  not  promise  to  make  a  proficient  butcher  out 
of  him  without  his  studiously  devoting  himself  to  the  prac- 
tical work.  "Practice  makes  perfect,"  and  it  is  by  continual 
practice  only  that  a  butcher  can  ever  hope  to  become  an 
•expert  in  his  business.  The  shorthand  writer,  and  the  tele- 
graph operator  can  best  understand  what  practice  means  in 
regard  to  speed  and  cleanliness  of  work.  Speed  means 
•cleanliness  and  neatness  in  slaughtering. 

No  one  will,  I  think,  question  my  contention  that  the 
shepherd  or  flockmaster  who  can  dress  his  fat  stock  neatly, 
and  put  same  directly  in  the  consumers'  hands,  or  nearlv  so, 
thereby  monopolizing  the  middleman's  profits,  is  an  econo- 
mist, and  is  making  the  best  of  circumstances.  It  should  be 
borne  in  mind,  however,  that  sheep  and  lambs  must  be 
dressed  in  a  neat,  business-like  manner  when  intended  for 
the  market,  or  the  probabilities  are  that  the  price  received 
from  the  consignment  will  not  be  just  what  the  vendor  ex- 
pected. 

There  is  money  in  really  good,  fat  spring  lambs  when 
properly  marketed.  I  have  sent  good  fat  Dorset  spring 
lambs  to  restaurants  in  Philadelphia  which,  in  the  month  of 
February,  realized  as  high  as  $10  per  head  at  a  dressed  weight 
of  twenty-two  pounds,  whereas  a  lamb  weighing  from  five  to 
ten  pounds  more  would  not  perhaps  in  June  fetch  more  than 
one-half  that  amount. 

The  one  most  vital  point  that  proves  fatal  to  overlook,  is, 
whether  catering  to  the  wholesale,  retail  or  private  trade- 
that  nothing  should  be  offered  but  prime  ripe,  fat  animals, 
dressed  in  a  neat,  clean  and  business-like  manner. 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  20? 

Among  English  butchers  it  is  a  common  saying  that  "a 
fat  animal  dresses  itself."  Nothing  to  the  author's  mind- 
offers  such  a  deplorable  spectacle  from  a  butcher's  point  of 
view  as  a  half-fattened,  ill-fed  carcass  of  lamb.  The  meat, 
from  such  appears  dirty  and  unwholesome  in  contrast  with 
the  well-fattened  one,  whose  caul  and  kidney  shows  up  as. 
clean  and  bright  as  the  new  minted  dollar. 

Selection  of  Fat  Lambs. 

A  lamb  having  a  fat  tail  has  almost  invariably  a  thick,  beau- 
tiful caul  and  kidneys — a  great  desideratum.  It  does  not 
follow,  however,  that  a  lamb  with  a  thick  caul  and  kidneys, 
is  in  reality  a  good  lamb  in  the  truest  sense  of  the  word. 
The  Merino,  for  instance,  as  is  also  the  case  with  the 
Channel  Island  breeds  of  cattle,  almost  invariably,  when  in; 
good  condition,  carry  most  magnificent  cauls  and  internal 
fat,  but  having  been  bred  along  lines  other  than  for  mutton 
and  beef  production,  respectively,  are  decidedly  indifferent: 
for  these  purposes.  Individuals  vary  considerably  in  quality, 
even  among  one  and  the  same  breed,  and  fed  under  the 
exact  same  conditions,  but  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that 
the  best  markets  demand  a  good  article,  therefore,  when, 
mutton  and  lamb  are  considered,  none  but  prime  thick- 
fleshed  animals  should  be  selected  for  slaughter,  or  for  ship- 
ment at  least. 

To  ship  a  half-fat,  ill-dressed  sheep  or  lamb  to  a  commis- 
sion house  and  expect  "returns"  equal  to  those  received 
from  the  prime  article  is,  to  say  the  least,  placing  the  sales- 
man in  a  queer  predicament,  for  he  cannot  possibly  get  such 
results;  therefore  it  is  imperative  that  the  shipper  be  very/ 


208  FITTING  SHEEP 


•careful  in  selecting  the  lambs  which  he  intends  for  slaughter. 
It  is  not  the  weight  or  age  of  the  lamb  that  commands  the 
price,  but  rather  the  condition  and  quality. 

For  degree  of  thickness  of  the  flesh,  the  loins,  twist  and 
-scrag  are  the  principal  points  to  be  examined,  when  these 
points  are  found  to  be  thick  and  full,  and  in  their  com- 
pany we  find  a  fat  tail  we  may  feel  satisfied  we  have  a  good 
subject  for  slaughter. 

When  inspecting  and  selecting  fat  stock  for  suitable  sub- 
jects for  dressing  it  should  be  handled  freely  and  not  deli- 
cately, as  if  handling  a  delicate  fabric. 

Fasting. 

All  animals  should  be  fasted  not  less  than  twelve  hours  be- 
fore being  killed.  The  meat  undoubtedly  settles  and  cools 
better,  to  say  nothing  of  the  danger  of  the  bursting  of  the 
intestines  being  minimized  in  the  process  of  dressing. 

Appliances  for  Slaughtering. 

The  appliances  necessary  for  the  home  slaughtering  of 
sheep  and  lambs  are  few  in  number,  and  of  but  moderate 
•cost.  A  sticking  knife,  a  skinning  knife,  a  small  pulley  and 
rope  for  the  purpose  of  hoisting  the  animal  after  being 
"legged,"  a  few  back-sets  and  a  bundle  of  skewers  make  a 
fairly  respectable  outfit  for  the  "home-made"  butcher. 

Sticking.     , 

Nothing  chills  the  blood  of  a  professional  butcher  more 
perhaps  than  the  perusal  of  some  articles  in  which  ama- 
teurs or  novices  pretend  to  give  instructions  how  to  kill 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET. 


LAMB  DRESSED  WITH  SHORT  BACKSETS 
BACK   VIEW. 


FITTING  SHEEP 


and  dress  sheep  and  lambs  for  the  market;  many  of  which 
advocate  killing  by  decapitation  with  the  broad-ax.  That 
-decapitation  with  the  broad-ax  will  quickly  terminate  a 
sheep  or  lamb's  existence  there  is  not  the  slightest  doubt, 
but  it  is  an  uncouth,  dirty,  impracticable  method  to  pursue. 
I  have  had  practical  experience  in  quite  a  number  of  up-to- 
date  slaughter  houses,  and  opportunities  for  observation  in 
many  more,  but  I  have  never  seen  an  animal  decapitated  with 
this  instrument  in  either  yet. 

The  sticking  knife  is  what  its  name  implies  and  is  the 
tool  par  excellence  for  dispatching  animals  intended  for 
•conversion  into  human  food. 

Again,  the  novice  tells  us  that  the  carcass  should  be  washed 
both  inside  and  out.  What  for?  pray!  Unless  dirt  and  filth 
has  accumulated  on  the  carcass?  Why  wash  what  Nature 
lias  seen  fit  to  keep  scrupulously  clean?  An  unclean,  unskill- 
ful manipulator  of  the  knife  has  undoubtedly  great  cause  for 
washing  both  the  inside  and  outside  of  the  carcass  he  has 
been  working  on,  but  a  skillful  one  has  no  further  use  for 
water  other  than  what  he  uses  in  rinsing  his  "wiping  cloth." 

Further,  the  novice  will  tell  you  that  the  wool  that  comes 
in  contact  with  the  flesh  gives  the  mutton  a  woolly  flavor. 
The  way  a  professional  slaughterman  opens  the  skin  of  or 
Presses  his  sheep  entirely  prevents  the  wool  coming  in  con- 
tact with  the  flesh,  so  I  can  hardly  allow  this  theory  to  pass 
unchallenged. 

Here  is  my  theory,  which,  I  am  satisfied,  is  well  grounded, 
from  what  I  have  observed  after  a  long  and  careful  study  of 
the  subject:  When  an  animal  has  laid  for  any  considerable 
time  after  being  killed,  gas  accumulates  or  generates  in  the 
stomach.  This  gas  has  the  exact  same  odor  as  is  carried 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  211 

by  mutton  known  as  ''woolly"  mutton.  Where,  as  in  some- 
cases,  two  or  more  slaughtermen  are  working  in  company- 
it  is  usual  that  quite  a  number  of  sheep  are  "stuck  down'" 
at  one  sticking,  and  it  is  then  noticeable,  usually,  that  by  the 
time  the  last  one  of  these  is  dressed,  the  stomach  has  become 
distended  with  gas.  Upon  smelling  the  inside  of  this  car- 
cas  the  "woolly"  odor  is  plainly  smelt;  therefore,  my  conten- 
tion is  that  a  slow  dresser  is  the  manufacturer  of  woolly 
mutton.  Scarcely  is  the  life  out  of  the  animal  before  the  gas 
commences  to  accumulate.  The  swelling  of  the  stomach 
proves  this.  This  is  the  commencement  of  decay.  It  is  a 
well-known  fact  that  a  "gutted"  carcass  does  not  decompose 
nearly  so  rapidly  as  one  remaining  intact,  or  not  "gutted." 
It  appears  somewhat  unreasonable  to  the  writer  to  sup- 
pose that  wool  in  coming  in  contact  with  the  flesh  for  so- 
short  a  period  and  in  so  slight  a  degree  as  is  usual  in  the 
course  of  dressing  a  sheep  or  a  lamb,  can  possibly  be  the 
cause  of  woolly  mutton,  because  the  skinning  of  a  sheep 
should  not,  at  the  outside,  take  more  than  ten  minutes, 
when  done  by  one  laying  any  claim  at  all  to  being  a_ 
butcher.  The.  record  time  for  dressing  sheep  is,  I  believe,  un- 
der three  minutes.  Now  when  we  consider  the  case  of 
newly  shorn  sheep  it  appears  almost  impossible  that  the 
woolly  flavor  of  mutton  can  be  traced  to  the  wool  through 
coming  in  contact  with  the  flesh,  but  the  truth  is  the  woolly- 
flavor  is  no  less  in  evidence  in  newly  shorn  sheep  than  in 
those  clothed  in  their  longest  or  heaviest  coats — where  the 
animal  has  been  allowed  to  lay  for  any  considerable  time 
after  being  dead  before  being  "gutted."  Further,  it  appears- 
very  unreasonable  to  suppose  that  through  the  wool  com- 
ing in  contact  with  the  flesh  on  the  outside  of  the  carcass  that 


212  FITTING  SHEEP 


this  should  impregnate  the  inside  of  same  with  that  woolly 
flavor  of  which  it  invariably  smells  the  strongest 

In  sticking  both  sheep  and  lambs  where  modern  appli- 
ances are  not  at  command,  the  intended  subject  for  slaugh- 
ter should  be  placed  on  its  j.'ft  side  with  its  head  over  the 
gutter  that  should  run  through  the  slaughter  house,  the 
operator  then  taking  its  head  or  nose  and  underjaw  together 
in  -his  left  hand,  plunges  the  sticking  knife  clear  through  its 
neck  at  a  point  just  back  of  its  ear  and  as  close  to  the  jaw 
bone  as  possible,  and  then,  with  a  quick  motion  of  the 
knife  cuts  toward  the  vertebrae.  This  severs  the  jugular 
vein,  and  the  animal's  life  blood  rapidly  flows  away.  In 
sticking  a  sheep  it  is  not  necessary  or  even  advisable  to  sever 
cither  the  windpipe  or  the  tube  through  which  the  food  goes 
on  its  journey  to  the  stomach. 

Pithing. 

The  butcher  will  perform  a  very  humane  act  by  "pithing" 
the  subject  he  is  working  on.  This  is  done  in  the  following 
manner:  Put  the  left  hand  under  the  animal's  lower  jaw 
and  the  other  on  top  of  its  head,  or  poll  then  by  pushing  or 
bearing  down  on  the  head  with  the  right  hand  and  pulling 
tip  with  the  left  hand  the  vertebrae  of  the  neck  disjoints  and 
allows  of  the  finger  passing  to  the  spinal  cord.  This  is  easily 
severed  by  the  fore-finger.  This  being  done  there  is  no 
possible  chance  of  the  animal  bleating,  or  ever  regaining  its 
feet  again.  The  first  lamb  dead  furnishes  the  means  of  hold- 
ing or  pinning  the  next  intended  victim  in  place  for  stick- 
ing. Put  it  on  its  left  side,  then  push  its  under  legs  under- 
neath the  body  of  the  dead  lamb  and  it  is  helpless  after  an- 
other one  has  been  placed  in  like  position  with  its  legs 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  213 

placed  underneath  it.  Put  all  you  intend  "sticking  down"  in 
this  "fix,"  then  "stick"  the  whole  of  them,  being  careful, 
however,  not  to  stick  more,  than  you  or  your  company  can 
dress  in  a  reasonable  time.  In  winter  fewer  should  be 
"stuck  down"  at  a  time  than  in  summer,  as  they  will  soon 
become  cold  and  stiff  and  will  not  dress  nearly  so  nice  as 
when  not  allowed  to  become  cold  and  stiff. 

Legging. 

By  "legging"  is  meant  the  opening  and  loosening  the 
skin  of  the  legs  preparatory  to  the  animal  being  hung  up 
for  the  removal  of  the  skin  from  the  body.  In  legging  an 
animal  a  proper  skinning  knife  should  be  used,  or  one  not 
so  extremely  pointed  as  is  the  sticking  knife.  As  soon  as 
life  is  extinct  lay  the  animal  on  its  back,  then  take  its  left 
front  foot,  or  leg,  between  your  knees  and  take  the  skin 
on  the  fore  part  of  the  shank  between  the  forefinger  and 
thumb  of  the  left  hand  and  with  a  steady,  vigorous  pull,  pull 
it  away  from  the  shank-bone,  then  with  an  upward  cut  with 
your  sharp  knife,  the  whole  of  the  skin  on  the  fore  part  of 
the  shank  may  be  loosened  at  one  sweep.  The  skin  must 
now  be  opened  from  the  knee  down  the  side  of  the  breast  to 
a  point  in  the  center  of  the  under  jaw.  In  opening  the 
skin  keep  your  knife  a  little  to  one  side;  this  prevents  of  its 
"dipping"  into  the  flesh.  As  soon  as  the  skin  is  opened 
the  edges  on  either  side  of  the  opening  must  be  loosened  a 
very  little  by  skinning  in  the  ordinary  way  with  the  blade 
of  the  knife.  Now  the  remaining  part  of  the  neck,  leg,  etc., 
is  easily  and  rapidly  skinned  by  a  vigorous  pounding  with 
the  handle  of  the  knife,  between  the  skin  and  the  flesh.  The 
less  that  the  skin  is  removed  from  the  animal  before  being 


214  FITTING  SHEEP 


hung  up,  in  reality,  the  better,  as  the  carcass  is  better  pre- 
served from  dirt,  etc.,  and  the  less  the  blade  of  the  knife  is 
used  in  skinning  the  better,  if  you  want  to  make  time. 

The  other  front  leg  may  now  be  treated  in  precisely  the 
same  manner,  only  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  open.,  the  skin 
further  than  at  point  of  breast. 

I  have  found  it  best,  in  the  case  of  mature  sheep,  to  loosen 
the  skin  from  off  the  breast  whilst  the  animal  lays  on  its 
back  on  the  ground.  This  is  accomplished  by  placing  the 
skin  already  removed  from  the  animal's  neck  in  its  ordi- 
nary position,  and  on  this  place  your  foot,  then  grasping 
the  loose  skin  at  the  point  of  the  breast  you  pull  the  skin 
backward  toward  the  stern  of  the  animal.  If  it  appears  that 
the  breast  fat  is  coming  off  the  breast  in  company  with  the 
skin,  the  knife  must  be  used  to  free  it.  As  soon  as  the 
thick  skin  of  the  breast  is  loosened  the  skin  around  the 
underside  of  ribs  and  belly  can  be  loosened  almost  in  a 
moment  by  holding  the  skin  firmly  in  the  left  hand  and 
pushing  the  other  hand  vigorously  between  the  skin  and  the 
flesh. 

Wizzling. 

"Wizzling,"  in  slaughter  house  vernacular,  means  the 
loosening  of  the  gullet  or  tube  that  conveys  the  food  to  the 
stomach  from  the  neck,  so  as  to  allow  of  its  being  with- 
drawn with  the  stomach  and  intestines  of  the  animal.  This 
tube,  it  must  be  mentioned,  after  being  loosened  from  the 
neck,  is  cut  off  about  equidistant  from  the  breast  and  jaw, 
and  securely  tied  to  prevent  escape  of  contents  of  stomach. 

The  operation  of  "wizzling"  is  performed  in  the  following 
manner:  In  a  straight  line  from  point  of  the  breast  to  under- 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  215 

jaw  open  with  your  knife;  the  first  thing  you  will  notice 
will  be  the  windpipe;  care  should  be  used  not  to  cut  this, 
although  it  is  not  really  important  to  do  so.  Underneath 
the  windpipe  will  be  found  the  gullet  or,  rather,  the  "meat 
gut,"  snugly  hidden  away.  This  must  be  loosened  from  the 
neck,  tied  and  cut  off,  and  then  with  a  gentle  pull  should  be 
loosened  from  the  chest,  but  not  detached  from  the  stom- 
ach. If  the  outside  brown  casing  be  carefully  cut  you  will 
notice  underneath  a  white,  tough,  muscular  tube.  This  is 
the  meat  gut,  proper;  the  brown-looking  outer  tube  being 
the  casing  or  protection  to  the  gullet,  proper.  If  a  circle  be 
•described  around  the  white  tube  by  cutting  the  brown  cas- 
ing clear  around  and  the  tube  then  tied  in  a  knot  at  this 
point,  there  will  be  no  danger  of  the  knot  slipping  or  unty- 
ing. Care  must  be  observed  not  to  cut  through  the  white 
tube,  or  a  disagreeable  leakage  will  result 

The  hind  legs  must  now  receive  attention.  Take  the  left 
hind  leg  between  your  knees,  then  open  the  skin  at  about 
three  inches  below  the  hoof  on  the  back  part  of  the  leg 
where  the  tendons  are  situated;  in  doing  this  it  is  well  to 
leave  a  little  of  the  skin  on  around  the  leg  next  the  hoof. 
(See  illustration.)  Continue  opening  of  skin  to  point  of 
tail.  As  soon  as  you  find  the  skin  tolerably  free  on  the  edges 
from  skinning  with  blade  of  knife,  pound  the  skin  free  with 
the  handle  of  your  knife.  The  skin  is  easily  divided  from 
the  flesh  by  thus  proceeding.  The  remaining  leg  being 
treated  in  like  manner,  the  subject  is  now  ready  for  hang- 
ing up,  the  pulley  now  coming  into  play  for  this  purpose. 
Should  the  operator  not  happen  to  have  at  hand  the  little 
iron  hooks  or  gambrils  usually  used  for  the  purpose  of  sus- 
pending the  carcass,  he  may  insert  his  knife  between  the 


216  FITTING  SHEEP 


cords  and  shank  bones  of  the  legs — hind  legs,  of  course — and 
after  inserting  a  small  piece  of  rope  or  strong  twine  several 
times  doubled  through  the  holes  made  by  doing  this  and 
tying  same  securely,  hang  up  the  carcass  by  this. 

The  animal  now  being  hung  up  the  operator  should  allow 
of  the  escape  of  all  drainings  of  the  veins  by  sticking  his 
knife  into  the  breast  of  the  carcass  much  in  the  manner  that 
is  usually  followed  in  the  sticking  of  a  pig  or  steer.  The 
blood  readily  escapes  and  makes  the  matter  of  dressing  more 
cleanly.  Having  proceeded  thus  far,  we  now  pull  the  skin 
from  off  the  hind  legs  by  a  downward  vigorous  pull.  By  the 
putting  of  one's  wrist  against  the  "veil"  or  inside  skin,  or 
film,  when  pulling  the  skin  will  prevent  this  being  torn  which 
is  of  much  importance  in  the  skillful  dressing  of  sheep  and 
lambs.  Now  loosen  the  thin  skin  on  the  inside  of  the  hind 
legs;  this  is  best  accomplished  by  ordinary  skinning  with 
the  blade  of  the  knife.  In  skinning  this  part  be  particular  to 
keep  the  skin  strained  tight;  this  greatly  facilitates  the  oper- 
ation of  skinning.  The  main  opening  of  the  skin  is  now 
made  by  cutting  straight  down  through  the  skin  of  the  belly 
at  a  point  from  the  udder  or  scrotum,  as  the  case  may  be, 
to  the  point  of  the  breast.  The  skin  is  now  easily  freed 
from  the  belly  and  sides  by  vigorous  punches  between  the 
skin  and  the  flesh  with  the  fist  or  the  handle  of  the  knife. 
In  removing  the  skin  from  the  shoulders  and  the  partially 
skinned  shanks  of  forelegs,  the  first  should  be  fist  driven 
directly  through  between  the  skin  and  flesh,  with  a  down- 
ward thrust,  beginning  at  the  point  of  the  shoulder  blade; 
then  with  pressure  of  the  arm  and  elbow  the  "whole  busi- 
ness" is  removed  from  side  and  shank  in  a  "jiffy." 

This  done,  take  the  shank  of  left  front  leg  in  your  right 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  217 

hand  and  with  the  left,  strip  the  skin  back  toward  the 
backbone.  This  is  easily  done.  Treat  the  remaining  side  in 
the  same  manner,  only  reversing  position  of  hands.  Now 
if  the  skin  be  loosened  from  the  rump-fat,  the  skin  can  be 
easily  pulled  from  off  the  back  and  detached  with  the  knife 
at  base  of  the  skull.  In  dressing  wethers  care  should  be 
taken  that  the  scrotum  fat  be  left  intact — i.  e.,  it  should  not  be 
cut  off. 

Washing;. 

The  carcass  of  an  animal  should  never  be  washed;  that 
is,  considered  in  the  true  sense  of  the  word;  but,  rather,  be 
wiped  with  a  cloth  that  has  been  thoroughly  rinsed  and 
wrung  as  dry  as  possible  immediately  before  using.  As  soon 
as  the  blood-stains,  etc.,  have  been  removed  by  the  wipingT 
cloth,  the  operator  should  empty  the  veins  of  the  back  of 
blood;  this  is  accomplished  by  a  kind  of  scraping  of  the 
veins  with  the  knife,  commencing  on  either  side  of  the 
backbone  and  scraping  toward  the  belly. 

Gutting. 

Gutting  is  the  act  of  removing  the  entrails  of  an  animal. 
First,  the  breast  bone  must  be  divided.  This  is  readily 
accomplished  in  the  case  of  lambs  and  young  sheep  with  the 
knife,  but  in  the  case  of  aged  animals  an  old  knife  and  rjam- 
mer,  or  a  meat  saw,  must  necessarily  be  used  to  divide  the 
somewhat  harder  bones.  By  inserting  the  knife  at  the  open- 
ing at  the  breast  or  throat  of  a  lamb  and  by  an  upward 
drawing  cut,  the  knife  quickly  opens  the  tender  bones  of  its 
breast.  Care  must  be  used  when  nearing  the  diaphragm  or 


218 


FITTING  SHEEP 


the  knife  may  slip  through  the  soft,  grisly  bones  of  the 
breast  and  cut  the  stomach.  This  would  be  fatal  as  regards 
cleanliness  in  dressing  an  animal.  Perhaps  it  would  be  ad- 
visable for  the  amateur  to  remove  the  stomach  and  intestines 
before  attempting  to  split  up  the  breast;  if  this  plan  is  fol- 
lowed the  udder  or  scrotum,  as  the  case  may  be,  should  be 
opened  by  the  hands  after  the  membrane  of  the  flesh  has 
been  divided.  These  will  divide  in  sections  in  the  exact 


ml iti 


GRADE  YEARLING  WETHER. 

same  way  as  will  an  orange — only  there  is  but  one  division — - 
and  will  look  much  better  than  when  wholly  divided  with 
the  knife.  When  dressing  sheep  or  lambs  it  is  not  neces- 
sary or  even  advisable  to  open  them  between  the  legs,  as  is 
usually  done  in  dressing  cattle,  etc.,  as  the  flesh  is  not  only 
more  exposed  to,  or  liable  to  become  covered  with,  dust,  etc.> 
but  assumes  a  dark,  dry  and  unpleasing  appearance  and  lacks 
that  freshness  that  is  so  much  in  evidence  where  they  are 
left  intact  until  ready  to  be  cut  up  and  offered  for  sale. 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  219 

The  belly  may  be  opened  either  by  cutting  through  di- 
rectly below  the  division  made  by  dividing  the  udder  or 
scrotum,  or  by  opening  in  line  with  the  breast  that  has 
been  recently  split  or  opened.  However,  the  first  mentioned 
would  be  the  better  plan  for  the  novice  to  pursue  until  he  is 
more  familiar  with  the  anatomy  of  the  animal.  It  is  an  easy 
matter  now  for  the  beginner  to  either  "split  down"  the 
breast  with  an  old  knife  and  a  hammer,  or  anything  handy, 
or  to  saw  with  meat  saw  without  danger  of  the  subject 
tinder  treatment  becoming  saturated  with  any  undesirable 
matter.  The  "pluck,"  "hinge"  or  "haslet"  (heart,  lungs,  liver, 
etc.)  can  be  easily  removed  after  cutting  or  loosening  the 
diaphragm.  Now  wipe  inside  clean  with  damp  wiping-cloth 
and  we  are  ready  for  setting  up  in  artistic  style  the  carcass. 
The  style  being  determined  upon  we  commence  business. 

Skewering  up  the  Shanks,  etc. 

In  cold  weather  the  legs  of  lambs  should  be  skewered  up, 
as  no  doubt  this  adds  much  to  the  beauty  and  finish  of  the 
carcass,  but  in  hot  weather  they  should  be  left  in  their  natural 
position.  When  the  legs  are  skewered  up  the  surface  of  the 
flesh  between  the  shoulder  and  breast  does  not  dry  and 
consequently  the  flesh,  in  warm  weather,  quickly  turns  green 
at  that  point.  By  referring  to  the  various  illustrations  ac- 
companying this  article  the  reader  will  readily  understand 
how  the  legs  or  shanks  of  a  lamb  are  skewered  up.  Where 
skewers  are  not  at  hand,  the  shanks  can  be  held  in  their 
proper  position  by  wrapping  one  of  the  cords — found  inside 
of  the  muscle  of  the  legs — around  the  shank  where  the  foot 
is  taken  off.  In  opening  the  muscle  for  the  purpose  of 


220  FITTING  SHEFP 


finding  these  cords  it  should  not  be  cut  crossways,  as  by 
doing  so  the  cords  will  be  severed,  but  should  be  cut  length- 
ways. When  taking  off  the  fore  feet  of  a  lamb  the  operator 
should  be  careful  to  take  them  off  at  the  proper  "lamb 
joint,"  or  he  will  be  at  once  branded  an  amateur.  The  "lamb 
joint"  is  not  really  a  joint,  but  the  connection  of  two  bones 
which  appear  as  if  cemented  together.  This  connection  is 
found  situated  in  the  shank  just  above  the  principal  joint  of 
the  foot.  By  drawing  his  knife  across  the  inside  of  the  fore- 
leg at  the  point  above  mentioned  and  severing  the  cords- 
the  operator  can  easily  disconnect  these  bones. 

Fixing  up  a  Lamb. 

Markets  differ  somewhat  in  requirements  as  regard  style 
and  finish  in  which  sheep  and  lambs  should  be  dressed. 
Mature,  heavy  weights  are  usually  dressed  in  plain  style, 
i.  e.,  without  backsets  of  any  kind.  (See  illustration.)  The 
sides  and  back,  however,  may  be  made  to  assume  an  artistic 
and  pleasing  appearance  with  the  knife  in  the  hand  of  a 
skillful  butcher. 

In  lamb  dressing,  the  New  York  market  asks  for  a  lamb 
dressed  with  double  backsets  (see  illustration),  whilst  the 
Boston  market  calls  for  only  one  backset. 

As  soon  as  the  entrails  and  haslet  have  been  removed  and 
all  trace  of  drainings  and  smearing  of  blood  eliminated  with 
the  damp  wiping  cloth,  the  backsets  should  be  used  in 
spreading  out  the  carcass  to  the  best  advantage.  Backsets 
can  be  made  out  of  almost  anything  that  goes  in  the  makeup 
of  a  store  box.  Split  a  piece  of  board,  leaving  it  about  two 
inches  wide  and  from  one  foot  to  eighteen  inches  long,  ao 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  221 

cording  to  size  of  lamb  being  dressed;  sharpen  at  both  ends 
and  you  have  a  cheap  and  quickly  made,  but  nevertheless- 
serviceable  backset.  These  should  be  provided  previous  to- 
slaughtering,  or  where  the  butcher  is  not  a  fast  dresser  the 
lamb  is  liable  to  become  cool  and  lose  the  desirable  gloss 
that  is  pleasingly  conspicuous  in  quickly  dressed  ones  whilst 
he  is  preparing  these. 

The  novice  quite  often  makes  the  mistake  of  having  the 
backsets  too  long,  which,  instead  of  answering  the  one  most 
important  purpose  of  contracting  or  thickening  the  loin  or 
flank  they,  on  the  contrary,  spread  them  too  much. 

Before  inserting  the  backsets  in  their  proper  positions 
the  lamb's  back  should  be  broken.  Breaking  a  lamb's  back 
in  the  process  of  dressing  not  only  makes  it  considerably 
easier  for  the  operator  to  properly  fix  the  backsets  in  their 
proper  positions,  but  helps  materially  in  setting  it  off  to 
advantage.  When  the  back  is  broken  just  behind  or  back 
of  the  kidneys,  these  organs,  clothed  as  they  are  in  snowy 
white  fat,  assume  a  fuller  and  more  beautiful  appearance, 
especially  when  they  are  neatly  and  properly  finished  by  be- 
ing fixed  up  with  skewers.  Skewering  up  the  kidneys  so  as 
to  make  them  appear  artistic  and  pleasing  to  the  eye  is  no 
mean  accomplishment,  and  one  that  is  not  so  easily  acquired 
as  might  be  at  first  expected.  Unless  great  care  is  used 
there  is  always  a  great  danger  of  breaking  or  bursting  them — 
the  kidneys,  or,  more  proper,  the  kidney  fat;  then,  added  to 
this,  there  is  always  considerable  difficulty  experienced  by 
the  novice  in  getting  them  to  assume  the  right  poise  or  posi- 
tion to  make  a  harmonious  and  pleasing  picture.  The  easiest 
and  best  way  to  break  a  lamb's  back  is  for  the  operator  to- 
place  one  hand  on  the  back  directly  behind  the  kidneys  and 


222  FITTING  SHEEP 


the  other  under  the  breast,  and  then  pushing  hard  against 
the  back  with  one  hand  and  lifting  up  the  breast  with  the 
•other,  the  work  is  easily  accomplished. 

In  warm  weather  the  fewer  skewers  that  are  used  in  the 
•dressing  of  a  lamb  the  better,  as  without  doubt  skewering 
does  not  tend  to  enhance  the  keeping  qualities  of  the  meat, 
but,  on  the  other  hand,  injures  it,  as  meat  will  invariably 
turn  green  where  the  skewers  are  inserted,  quicker  than  any 
in  other  parts  of  the  carcass. 

The  illustration  accompanying  this  chapter  will  explain 
liow  the  backsets  are  inserted  better  than  can  the  descriptive 
powers  of  the  writer  in  a  volume  of  words. 

The  backsets  in  place,  the  subject  is  now  ready  for  the 
•caul,  which  should  have  been  neatly  and  carefully  removed 
from  the  belly,  etc.,  and  placed  inside  the  warm  skin  of 
the  animal,  which  should  have  been  folded  and  preserved 
after  being  taken  off.  This  keeps  the  caul  warm,  which  is 
absolutely  necessary  to  dress  a  lamb  neatly.  Don't  do  as 
many  amateurs  recommend,  viz.,  put  the  caul  into  hot  water; 
this  is  entirely  unnecessary  and  a  direct  injury,  as  it  de- 
stroys the  gloss  of  the  caul  and  makes  it  look  rough  and 
brittle,  as  against  the  smooth,  glossy  and  tough  appearance 
of  that  kept  warm  by  the  natural  animal  heat  of  the  skin. 
Care  must  be  observed  in  putting  on  the  caul.  As  soon  as 
you  have  it  spread  out  handily  wrap  it  around  the  hind  legs 
.and  allow  it  tt>  hang  from  them;  cut  two  small  holes  for  the 
kidneys  to  come  through;  then  skewer  up  kidneys  as  seen 
in  the  accompanying  illustration.  A  careful  study  of  the 
illustration  will,  I  think,  give  the  reader  a  very  clear  idea  of 
how  the  caul,  etc.,  is  fixed. 

The  finishing  stroke  in  the  dressing  of  a  lamb  is  to  elim- 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET  223 

inate  all  blood,  moisture  and  undesirable  matter  from  its 
throat  by  thoroughly  wiping  it  with  the  wiping  cloth  after 
same  has  been  thoroughly  rinsed  and  wrung  as  dry  as  pos- 
sible. 

How  to  Fix  a  Poor  Lamb  so  as  to  flake  It  Appear  Fat. 

"There  are  tricks  in  all  trades  but  ours."  All  kinds  of 
trickery,  by  all  classes  of  people,  in  all  classes  of  business  are 
sometimes  resorted  to  "to  turn  an  honest  dollar."  Slaugh- 
termen that  are  "sleek"  at  their  business  can  fix  up  a  poor,, 
thin-fleshed  lamb  in  such  a  way  as  to  deceive  those  not  well- 
versed  in  the  business.  By  what  is  known  as  "blowing"  the 
legs  and  kidneys  of  a  lamb,  it  can  be  made  to  assume  a 
thick,  full  and  rotund  appearance.  In  "blowing"  the  hind 
leg  of  a  lamb  the  operator  should  make  a  nitch  in  the  skin 
on  the  inside  of  the  shank  and  insert  his  steel  between  the 
skin  and  flesh  for  the  purpose  of  separating  one  from  the 
other;  then  place  the  mouth  close  to  the  nitch  and  inflate  the 
leg.  Slaughtermen  in  the  old  country  use  a  machine  for 
this  purpose.  The  kidneys  are  also  inflated  to  give  them  a 
full  and  plump  appearance.  Another  method  employed  by 
some  butchers  to  give  the  kidneys  a  rotund,  full  appearance 
is  that  known  as  "padding."  By  "padding"  is  meant  stuffing 
something  behind  the  kidneys,  such  as  paper,  wiping  cloths 
or  rolls  of  caul,  while  yet  warm.  A  poor-looking  lamb  may 
be  materially  improved  by  covering  it  in  the  course  of  dress- 
ing with  the  caul  of  a  good,  fat  wether  sheep.  The  above- 
named  methods  and  many  others  of  a  like  nature  are  em- 
ployed in  the  dressing  of  lambs  in  the  slaughter  house,  but 
of  course  only  by  dishonest  slaughtermen. 


224  FITTING  SHEEP 


Packing  and  Shipping. 

Where  lambs  are  hog-dressed — i.  e.,  merely  gutted  and 
left  with  skins  intact — no  packing  is  necessary,  but  where 
they  are  fully  dressed  with  backsets,  etc.,  they  should  be 
neatly  sewed  in  cheese-cloth  or  some  light,  clean-looking 
material.  It  is  usual  in  the  case  of  spring  lamb  even  where 
backsets  are  used,  to  leave  the  skin  on  the  animal's  back,  and 
also  to  leave  the  haslet  intact  and  the  head  on.  I  have 
found  it  a  good  plan  in  shipping  to  make  a  light  frame  or 
crate  of  a  size  that  will  accommodate  two  lambs.  These 
should  be  firmly  tied  to  the  crates  to  prevent  the  breaking  of 
the  caul  and  otherwise  damaging  the  appearance  of  the 
consignment. 

Cleanliness. 

"Cleanliness  is  next  to  Godliness."  In  no  other  business 
is  this  adage  more  applicable  than  to  that  of  butchering. 
Speed  and  cleanliness  should  be  the  watchword  of  the  butch- 
er. All  tools  should  be  kept  scrupulously  clean.  The  butcher 
should  keep  both  himself  and  surroundings  scrupulously 
clean;  all  carcasses  and  the  cloths  in  which  they  are  en- 
veloped and  expressed  should  bear  the  impress  of  care  and 
cleanliness,  so  that  the  article  will  command  notice  in  the 
most  desirable  markets. 

How  to  Cut  up  a  Mutton  Carcass. 

In  addition  to  slaughtering,  every  shepherd  or  flockmaster 
should  have  a  pretty  clear  idea  qf  how  to  cut  up  a  carcass  of 
mutton  in  a  business-like  way  and  manner,  for  then  he  is 
enabled  to  dispose  of  his  surplus  or  cull  stock  to  advantage 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET. 


225 


among  his  neighbors.  No  one  will  question  but  that  a. 
carcass  cut  up  in  a  clean,  business-like  manner  is  more  at- 
tractive and  salable  than  when  cut  up  in  a  rough,  uncouth 
manner.  When  cutting  up  a  carcass  the  operator  should 
make  it  a  point  to  cut  clear  through  the  flesh  to  the  bone 
with  his  knife,  and  not  leave  part  of  it  for  the  saw  to  go- 


1.  Leg. 

2.  Loin. 

3.  Rib. 


4.  Breast. 

5.  Neck  or  Scrag. 

6.  Shoulder. 


7.    Shank. 


through,  as  by  doing  so  the  meat  is  jagged,  which  makes  it 
appear  very  unpleasing  to  the  sight  As  soon,  however,  as 
the  knife  reaches  the  bone  he  should  desist  and  use  the  saw, 
as  cutting  the  bone  with  the  knife  of  course  dulls  its  edge. 

In  the  accompanying  illustration  the  dotted  lines  show 
where  the  different  joints,  or  sections,  of  mutton  are  located, 
as  defined  by  the  Chicago  butchers.  Of  course  in  different 
localities  different  styles  of  cutting  are  in  vogue,  but  I 


226 


FITTING  SHE£P 


think  the   one  treated   of  here   will   answer  all   intents  and 
purposes  of  the  average  flockmaster  or  shepherd. 

In  cutting  up  a  carcass  of  mutton  the  operator  first  cuts 
it  in  halves  at  about  where  the  dotted  line  appears  in  the 
center  of  the  body,  and  the  halves  are  then  split  into  quar- 
ters. In  cutting  a  saddle  of  mutton  the  two  loins  should 
be  left  intact  or  undivided,  as  shown  in  the  accompanying 
illustration.  If  the  tail  is  split  up  a  couple  of  inches  it  adds 
to  the  appearance  of  the  saddle. 


SADDLE  AND  LEGS  FROM  GRADE  YEARLING  WETHER. 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  227 


On  Judging  flutton  Sheep. 

OOD  judges  of  mutton  sheep  are  those  who,, 
after  examining  the  various  points  of  a  sheep 
can,  to  use  an  old  country  phrase,  tell  how  it  will 
"kill."  It  is,  comparatively,  an  easy  matter  for 
a  breeder  to  tell  us  whether  or  not  a  certain 
sheep  of  the  breed  he  champions  is,  or  is  not,, 
truly  conformed,  true  to  type,  and  symmetrical, 
but  for  him  to  determine  whether  it  will  "kill  well"  and  under 
ordinary  circumstances  prove  profitable  to  the  butcher  is 
quite  another  matter.  A  sheep  may  appear  thick  and  squarely 
built  but  may  nevertheless  make  anything  but  a  profitable 
carcass  from  the  butcher  standpoint,  for  the  reason  that  its 
.thickness  is  not  made  up  of  desirable  flesh  but  rather  of 
superfluous  blubber.  Sometimes  we  find  sheep  dressing  not 
more  than  60  Ibs.  giving  more  actual  weight  of  flesh  than 
others  dressing  over  100  Ibs.;  while  the  flesh  of  the  loin  of  the 
former  would  perhaps  be  as  broad  over  as  a  dollar,  that  of 
the  latter  would  not  be  larger  than  that  of  a  fifty  cent  piece. 
Then  again  we  find  in  some  100  Ib.  carcasses  of  mutton  20 
per  cent  more  flesh  than  are  found  in  others  of  the  same 
weight.  From  this  we  can  easily  see  the  advantage  a  butcher 
has  in  profit  making  when  he  is  a  really  good  judge  of 
what  he  is  buying.  If  the  joints  of  mutton  from  the  sheep 
he  selects  for  trade  are  not  sold  in  their  normal  shape  and 
condition,  but  on  the  other  hand  have  to  be  reduced  say  io 
per  cent  in  weight  by  trimming  off  a  large  quantity  of  su- 
perfluous fat  to  make  them  saleable  and  satisfactory  to  his 
patrons,  it  is  easy  to  see  that  his  profits  cannot  be  large  from 
carcasses  such  as  these.  Furthermore,  what  makes  it  difficult 


•228  FITTING  SHEEP 


to  the  inexperienced  to  distinguish  a  thick-fleshed  sheep 
from  one  excessively  thick  in  "spine"  fat,  is  that  the  fat 
is  sometimes  so  solid  and  firm  that  it  requires  the  most 
•delicate  "touch"  and  acute  judgment  to  discriminate  be- 
tween the  two  conditions. 

You  may  ask  how  I  manage  to  determine  the  difference 
myself?  My  answer  is,  although  I  do  pretend  to  know,  I 
cannot  find  words  to  properly  explain  just  how  I  do  dis- 
tinguish between  the  two  conditions.  Where  two  sheep 
may  be  selected  of  the  same  weight,  from  the  same  flock,  and 
fed  in  the  same  manner,  one  of  which  may  be  of  the  un- 
profitable, thin-fleshed  class,  and  the  other  one  of  the  de- 
sirable thick-fleshed  class,  there  is  a  difference  in  the  "touch" 
of  the  animal  which  is  readily  recognized  by  the  practiced 
butcher.  As  before  mentioned,  to  be  able  to  distinguish 
this  difference  one  must  have  a  very  sensitive  "touch"  and 
much  practical  experience  in  handling  sheep.  Discord  or 
harmony  of  touch  tells  whether  we  are  handling  a  tub  of 
tallow  or  a  wealth  of  flesh.  How  very  liable  judges  the 
world  over  are  to  err  in  making  their  awards  in  fat  stock 
classes  is  often  and  amply  proved  by  the  results  of  the 
block  test. 

I  wish  it  to  be  understood  in  the  above  paragraph  that 
I  do  not  wish  to  go  on  record  as  saying  that  animals  to  be 
profitable  to  the  butcher  must  not  be  fat,  for  I  well  know 
that  an  animal  to  produce  really  good,  sweet,  tender  and 
luscious  meat  must  be  fat  or  "ripe."  But  what  I  wish  to 
convey  is  that  fat  animals  are  desirable  only  when  carrying 
.a  wealth  of  flesh  in  proportion  to  and  in  harmony  with  their 
•degree  of  fatness.  No  one  will,  I  think,  question  my  conten- 
tion that  the  flesh  from  fat  animals  is  far  and  away  superior 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  229 


YEARLING   WETHER   WHEN   DRESSED. 


230  FITTING  SHEEP 


to  that  from  the  poorly  finished  ones;    the  flesh  of  the  latter 
being  too  often  tough,  stringy,  and  almost  tasteless. 

It  is  not  my  wish  or  intention  to  criticise,  but  I  do  think,, 
and  the  block  test  has  proved  it  to  be  so  time  and  again, 
that  the  judges  sometimes  selected  to  pass  on  the  exhibits 
at  the  fat  stock  shows  are  sometimes  working  out  of  their 
latitude,  their  decision  being  given  too  often  from  a  purely 
breeder's  or  fancier's  standpoint.  Some  years  ago  while 
looking  over  the  winning  pens  of  yearling  wethers  at  a  lead- 
ing fat  stock  show  I  was  asked  my  opinion  of  a  pen  that  had 
been  awarded  champion  honor's.  I  expressed  myself  that 
so  far  as  the  weight  of  the  animals  was  considered  no- 
doubt  the  judges  were  right,  but  if  they  considered  those 
the  kind  of  animals  that  would  make  the  butcher  money 
they  had  without  a  possible  shadow  of  doubt  sadly  erred  in 
their  judgment.  They  handled,  to  my  mind,  exceedingly 
blubbery  and  the  "tokens"  plainly  convinced  me  that  they 
were  so  sadly  lacking  in  flesh  as  to  be  of  very  little  use 
to  the  butcher.  My  surmises  were  amply  verified  by  the 
block  test.  They  proved  to  be  enveloped  in  a  thick  mantle 
of  useless  "spine"  fat  that  along  the  loins  was  not  much 
less  than  one  and  a  half  inches  in  thickness,  while  the  flesh 
of  the  loin  was  exceedingly  poor,  that  streak  of  flesh  which 
is  in  evidence  in  the  loin  of  mutton  from  sheep  of  really 
good  quality  being  almost  entirely  absent.  How  can  a 
butcher  possibly  make  a  profit  out  of  such  animals?  Where 
is  our  judgment  when  we  award  premiums  to  animals  so 
poor  in  flesh  and  carrying  such  a  superfluity  of  fat,  over 
those  carrying-  wealth  of  flesh  and  teeming  with  other  de- 
sirable qualities? 

I  cannot,  perhaps,  better  illustrate  the  idea  I  wish  to  con- 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  231 


LAMB  DRESSED  WITH  SHORT  BACKSETS 
FRONT  VIEW. 


232  FITTING  SHEEP 


vey  of  how  eajy  it  is  for  the  inexperienced  to  err  in  their 
judgment  than  by  giving  a  brief  history  of  the  yearling; 
Shropshire  grade  wether  herewith  illustrated  as  he  appeared 
both  alive  and  when  dressed.  Although  I  call  him  a  yearling, 
he  was  when  slaughtered  but  351  days  old.  His  dam  was  a 
half-blood  Merino;  his  sire  an  imported  Royal  winning: 
Shropshire.  From  birth  to  death  he  was  crowded  along. 
on  the  best  rations  I  had  at  command,  among  them  being 
rape,  lupins,  thousand-headed  kale  and  kohlrabi.  He  dressed 
104  Ibs.  net.  I  do  not  know  what  per  cent  he  dressed  as 
I  did  not  weigh  him  when  alive,  but  I  think  I  can  safely 
say  he  dressed  over  60  per  cent  of  his  live  weight.  Before 
killing  him  I  sought  the  opinion  of  many  flockmasters  on 
his  merits  as  a  mutton  sheep.  Without  exception  he  was 
conceded  to  be  an  animal  of  true  mutton  conformation  and 
an  ideal  mutton  sheep.  Every  one  seemed  surprised  when  I 
expressed  my  opinion  that  he  was  not  an  ideal  mutton  sheep. 
I  did  not  take  this  stand  because  he  was  not  a  heavy, 
squarely-built  animal,  or  because  he  was  not  fat  enough,  but 
because  he  did  not  handle  as  if  he  was  as  thick  in  flesh  as 
he  should  be,  or  in  other  words  he  did  not  come  under  the 
hand  in  the  condition  that  he  should.  I  considered  him 
enveloped  in  a  mass  of  fat  that  the  butcher  would  have 
to  trim  off  from  the  various  joints,  with  the  exception  of  the 
legs,  to  make  him  saleable.  I  wish  to  say  here  it  is  rarely 
that  a  leg  of  mutton  is  too  fat.  Although  having  a  pretty- 
fair  leg  of  mutton  I  considered  him  poor  in  twist — of  course 
I  did  not  expect  him  to  carry  such  a  big  muscle  as  he  would 
have  if  he  had  been  left  uncastrated.  Reference  to  the  illus- 
trations will  prove  to  the  reader  how  far  I  was  correct  in 
my  judgment.  It  will  be  readily  seen  from  the  cut  of  the 


FOR  SHOW  RING  AND  MARKET.  233 

saddle  and  legs  of  mutton  that  they  are  sadly  deficient  in 
flesh.  Not  in  so  great  a  degree  as  is  sometimes  the  case, 
however. 

Although,  no  doubt  the  flockmaster  is  the  one  to  judge  and 
select  animals  from  a  breeder's  or  fancier's  standpoint  I 
have  always  considered  the  butcher  to  be  the  best  judge  of 
what  the  animal  should  be  from  the  block  standpoint.  Where 
one  is  almost  daily  handling  sheep  of  all  breeds,  grades, 
crosses  and  ages,  and  is  depending  on  his  judgment  to  a 
.great  extent  for  his  profits,  and  has  the  opportunity  of  com- 
paring the  condition  of  the  carcass  to  that  of  the  living 
animal,  he  must  naturally  become  an  expert  judge  and  should 
be  able  to  form  a  pretty  correct  opinion  of  how  a  sheep 
should  "die"  or  "kill."  • 


INDEX. 


Abscess  of  joints 181 

Abortion 183 

one   serious   cause    of... 89 

after  treatment 185 

Advertising,  value  of 53 

exhibiting  a  good  way •. 53 

Age,  how  to  tell  sheep's 128 

Alfalfa,  a  valuable  sheep  hay 160 

causes  bloat „ 160 

Alum „  77 

Ammonia  78 

Antiseptics,  in  castrating 116 

Antiseptic,  a  good  one „ 201 

Apoplexy,  parturient,  danger  of 98 

Appliances,  necessary  ones 62 

Auctioneer,  importance  of  good  one.. 53 

Auctions,  preparation  for 53 

Auction  sales,  directions  for „ 54 

ring 54 

B 

Barn,   the   sheep „....    71 

plan  of o 71 

Bedding,  barns  and  yards .' 83 

importance  of  abundant 80 

Beginners  handicapped 31 

Benzine,  experiments  with 165 

Black  spots  a  defect 13 

Blankets,  should  be  provided 29 

how  made 38 

Blanketing 38 

Bleeding,  how  to  do  it— when  of  benefit 194 

Bloat 26 

rations  that  will  cause 191 

Blocking  out 36 


236  INDEX 


Bloom,  a  sheep  not  in  when  improving 21. 

difficult   to   maintain 21 

what  is  it? 20 

Blubber  • 20- 

Bluestone 77 

Bowel  trouble  and  rich  milk 107 

Borax  78 

Bran  19 

and  oats  a  desirable  ration 90 

Breeds,  most  precocious 123 

wonderful  transformation 59' 

Breeders,  don't  select  show  stock  for v 64 

buy  of  reputable  ones 63 

Breeding  ewe  lambs 123 

Broken  limbs „ 192 

Butter  of  antimony 77 


c 


Cabbage  152 

Carbolic  acid 77 

Carbonate  of  soda 78 

Cellar,  the  root 912 

Castor  oil 78 

Castration  115 

Catching  a  sheep 106. 

Chalk 79 

Charcoal  79 

Champion  44 

Characteristics  10 

Chickens,  should  not  run  with  sheep 185 

Classes,  various  described 44 

Clover  hay 50 

Constitution  important r 7 

Color,  when  to  use 35 

Coloring,  when  advisable 35 

condemned  34 

Crook,  shepherd's,  the  use  of... 106 

Clover  hay 19 

Colic — symptoms — remedy 193 

Color,  when  to  apply 36 

Colored  sheep  filthy  to  handle 35- 

Coloring,  secrets  of  guarded 35 

object   of .    34 


INDEX  237 


Constipation  16T 

in  lambs  when  chilled 10S 

Cornfield,    rye   in 157 

Cossets,    raising • 107. 

Creeps     for    lambs 109 

Crops 12: 

spring  50* 

for  feed,  valuable  ones. 50 

Cross,  a  good  one  for  showing 26. 

Culls,  do  not  buy 63- 

D 

Devon  Longwool  for  early  lambs 141 

Diarrhoea  26,  181 

Dip,  what  one  to  use 177 

as  a  precaution 34 

Dipping,  when  and  how— kind  of  dip 130-131 

Disaster,  to  avoid  in  fitting 7 

Diseases,  contagious  to  be  guarded  against 6£ 

Disinfectant,  air  slaked  lime  a  good  one 80 

a  good  one 201 

Docking,  aged  sheep 118 

most  favorable  time 118 

Dogs,  strange 88 

Dorset,  breeding  twice  a  year t .  126 

Dorsets  for  early  lambs 140 

Down  breed  hornless 13 

breeds  rarely  need  washing 3& 

breeds  should  be  trimmed 55 

Doorways 88 

Draughts  injurious 79- 

Drenching,  how  to  do  it 129 

E 

Ear  tagging  lambs 108 

Ensilage,  as  a  tonic 159 

too    heating    for    breeding    ewes 159 

Epsom    salts 79- 

Ewe,  care  should  be  used  in  turning  up 88 

cause  of  scouring 98 

is   apt   to  forget  offspring 97 

lambs,  breeding 123. 


238  INDEX 


Ewes,  breeding,  ensilage  too  heating  for 159 

breeding,  and  high  feeding 84 

care  at  weaning  time 113 

damaged  by  their  own  urine 22 

difficult  to  get  show,  to  breed 49 

disowning  lambs 99 

fatten  easier  than  rams 18 

feeding  18 

feed  for  breeders 90 

getting  in  season 25 

importance  of  exercise 89 

let  the  rustle  for  a  living 89 

masculine  not  desirable  for 64 

matronly  one  preferable 63 

period  of  coming  into  heat 127 

pregnant,  care  of 87 

should  be  handled  carefully 88 

sorting  and  grading 87 

stuffing  with  grain  wrong 89 

with  broken  bags 64 

wool  to  be  clipped  from  flanks  at  lambing  time 106 

young  one  preferred  for  various  reasons 64 

Exercise,  important  on  the  circuit 45 

necessary  in  fitting 28 

should  be  gentle  and  regular 28 

Exhibitors,  honest  and  dishonest  on  same  footing 31 

Eyes, .  inflammation  of,   treatment 178 


F 


Fasting     208 

Feed,  effect  oh  lambs 109 

Feeding    ewes 18-19 

governed  by  temperament 17 

lambs    18 

punctuality   important. , 19 

regularly    92 

Feet,  care  of 28 

fouling     28 

hints  on  trimming 28 

neglect    of    means   foot-rot 28 

Fine    wool    sheep    for    early    lambs 142 

Fitting    17 

exercise   necessary .  28 


INDEX  239- 


Fleece    IS 

of  breeding  stock -. 65 

dip  detracts  from  beauty 34 

Dorsets  generally   free   from   spots 15- 

fine    preferred 65 

location  of  best  parts 15 

of    Longwools 15 

method   of  tying 139 

quality  of  individuals  vary 29 

of  secondary   consideration 65 

should  be  carefully  studied 15 

of   show   stock '. 14 

too  long  not  desirable 29 

Flock,    on    purchasing    the 63 

Flockmaster,    relation   to   shepherd,  r 61 

Footrot    186 

cure    for ~ 187-188 

neglect  a  cause 28 

Forage    crops 151 

crops,  introduction  into  England 60 

Forcing,   importance  of 19 

Foretop     37 

Founder    20 

overheating  the  cause 45 


G 


Gadfly,  to  prevent  attacks  of 16T 

Garget,  causes  and  remedy 173 

Gestation,  period  of  in  ewes 127 

Genital  organs,  stimulating 26 

organs,  mustard  as  a  stimulator  of 153 

Gid  191 

Giddiness 191 

Ginger  7& 

Grain  20 

danger  of  overfeeding 20 

how  much  to  feed 91 

Grogginess  20 

the  cause 4& 

Grub  in  the  head 18& 


240  INDEX 


Hampshires,  for  early  lambs 141 

Hampshire,  and  Oxford  cross 27 

Handling    21 

Hay,     saving 83 

Heat,  period  when  commences  in  ewes 127 

Horns  have  been  eliminated 60 

Downs  and  Longwools  hornless 13 

Hospital,     the 163 

Housing,   close  not  recommended 27 

Hurdles,  how'  to  make 85,  87 

Hyposulphite   of  soda 78 


Inbreeding,  not  recommended 69 

Infection,    danger   i'rom   reduced 163 

Initials,   easily  made 84 

Instruments,  shepherd  should  provide 43 

Intestines,  nodular  disease  of 197 


Jockeying    14 

Joints,   abscess  of 181 

Joint  ill,  cause  of 79 

evil    181 

Judges,   not  deceived  by  trade  tricks 29 

observant    shepherd    best 9 

responsibility   of 9 

Judge,    should    be    assisted 47 


Kale,  sheep  do  not  bloat  on 152 

thousand  headed 152 

thousand  headed,  value  for  show  sheep 50 

Kemp,   denotes   inferiority 14 

Kohl  rabi,  for  arid  regions 154 


INDFX  241 


Lamb,  chilled,  how  to  revive 105 

creeps    109 

crop,  how  to  have  good  one 8&. 

dead  to  remove 184 

the    early 95 

foods,    specially    prepared    ones 53 

how   to   suckle 102, 

weakly  difficulty  in  getting  to  suck 102; 

weakly,  how  to  feed 105 

wrong   way   to   come 98. 

Lambs,    effects    of    overrich    milk 18. 

effect   of   feed  on 109 

early,  feeding  and  care,  markets,  etc 142-147 

best  ration  at  weaning  time 11'3 

fat  to  select 206- 

feeding    18,  108 

hot  house,   rearing  of 141 

marking    108 

milk  fed 22: 

and  the  promptings  of  nature 26 

raising    on    cows 25 

should  be   forced HO4 

should  be  trimmed 32: 

should  not  get  hungry 19 

show  not  to  be  shorn 32 

spring,  money  in 20ft 

store,   management  of 109 

stubborn     , 102 

stunted    110- 

symptoms    of    wool    balls— treatment : 170- 

teaching  to  suck 22 

using  ram 126- 

usual  way  of  feeding * 19 

young  do  not  overload  stomach 102 

weakly    ones 105 

when    they    should    come 95 

Lambing,    normal    conditions 98 

Land,  sheep  sick 90- 

Laudanum    78 

Leg    12 

Lice    185 

Limbs,    broken 192: 


242  INDEX 


Lime  and  sulphur,  for  scab  condemned 175 

and  sulphur  a  depilatory 186 

Linseed  oil  for  constipation 168 

Linseed    oil 79 

Liver,    diseased 63 

fluke 169 

Longwools,   free  from  horns 13 

not  closely  trimmed : 37 


M 

Maggots,    symptoms— treatment 118-120 

Male  shield  fern 79 

Mangels  as  a  feed  for  breeding  ewes. .' 91 

Mangel 155 

Marking  ink,  shepherds' 84 

where  to  mark . ... ' ...    85 

lambs 108 

Maturity,  about  early 125 

Milk,   be  careful  of 23 

rich   and   bowel   trouble. .107 

overrich,   effect   on   lambs 18 

cow's,  to  be  reduced 107 

Mistakes,  easy  for  a  novice. 12 

Mustard,    white ...  153 

wild  not  same  as  white. 153 

stimulate  genital  organs 153 

white  not  same  as  wild — 153 

Mutton   form , 9 

form,    imperfect .... 13 

sheep,  evolution  of. 59 

type,  the  importance  of 40 

yellow  unsalable. . . „ .»..-. ;...».    63 


N 

Navel  ill,  remedy  for. 173 

Nitric   acid o    78 

Nodular    disease    of    intestines.... .....197 

Novices,    hints    to 40 

Numbering . . . „ .    54 


INDEX  24$ 


Oats ...19,  157 

and   bran   a    desirable    ration ........    90 

and  oil  cake  a  preventive  for  worms 165 

Ochre 35 

Odors,    danger    from :....... 80 

Overheating 20 

how    to    treat , 45 

show    stock 44 

symptoms 45 

Oil 35 

cake 19 

cake  and  worms 164 

cake  and  oats  a  preventive  for  worms 165 

Overfeeding,    danger    of    grain 20 

Overfitting 21 

Oxford,  and  Hampshire  cross ,.. 27 


P     . 

Paddock,    the  run  of..... 27 

Parturition,    the    final    pains 96 

large   headed   lambs 96- 

Pasture .49 

change  of 90 

purification    of. 90- 

Peas 157 

Pedigree,  comes  after  merit 64 

Pens 54 

Placenta,   should  be  destroyed 83 

Post-mortem  examinations,  hints  on 19& 

Precocity,    most   precocious   breed 123 

Punctuality,   the   shepherd's  watchword. 20 

Q 

Quidders,    cause    of 178 

R 

Racks,  hay,  as  division  in  the  barn 71 


244  INDEX 


Ham,  fore  quarters  of 11 

lambs,  treatment  of 110 

number   of    ewes    he    should    serve 69 

on   purchasing  the 64 

points    of 11 

ruddling,     the 70 

saving  the  vigor  of 70 

should  be  liberally  cared  for 54 

standing    the 70 

treatment  when  in  service 69 

turning   with   the   flock 70 

what  he   should  eat 69 

pampering    a    mistake 54 

preparing  for  sale „ 54 

should  be   taught  to  lead 28 

should  not  be  allowed  with  ewe  flock 84 

should  not   be   fed  mangels 155 

urinary   troubles   of 192 

Rape   152,  157 

amount  of  seed  to  acre 158 

in  cornfield 159 

on    raising 158 

soil     suitable 158 

some  danger  from t 158 

Bation,    ideal 19,  157 

corn  not  desirable 91 

and  cheap  and  healthful  ration  for  breeding  ewes 91 

rye   an  appetizing 157 

spring  vetch   as   fattening 156 

for  breeding  ewes,  a  desirable  one ". 90 

stale    detrimental 19 

succulent,  advice  about 50 

succulent   for    lambs 109 

that  will   cause  bloat 191 

thousand-headed    kale 50 

Reducing  show  stock 49 

Regularity,  the  watchword  of  shepherds 20 

Reversion    11 

Rheumatism,   cause   of 79 

Ribs,  imperfectly  sprung 8 

Rib,    shape „ 11 

Rickets    20 

Remedies,    shepherd    should   provide 43 


INDEX  245 


Roots    18 

as    medicine 151 

cheaply    produced « 151 

danger   of  frozen 92 

in     cold     weather 155 

prevent  constipation  in  lambs 168 

should  be   kept   from   heating » 92 

Rosin    78 

Rupture    193 

Rye  an  appetizing  ration 157 

in    cornfield 157 

valuable    50 

s 

'Sainfoin  on  poor  soil — as  a  sheep  food 160 

Salt,    necessary 19 

Scab    175-177 

Scald,    foot,    cause    of 80 

Scours,    white 168 

Scours,   white,   cause   and  treatment 16S 

Shape,  how  to  mould  into 32 

Shearing,   how  to  stubble  shear 32 

stubble,   described 32 

stud    flocks 135 

stubble    30 

Sheep  and  North  American  winters 79 

constant    handling    tames 48 

confined    gets   blubbery 27 

divided,    two    classes 59 

different  ages  should  be  separated „ 84 

getting    off   their    feed 46 

haul    to    the   grounds 46 

how   to   catch 106 

injured    on    cars 10 

showing   in  the  rough 31 

:many  valuable,   ruined 48 

not   difficult    to   fatten 16 

show,  time  to  shear 29 

show,    the  washing  of 33 

show,     regarding    shearing 29 

shown    without    coloring 36 

turnip    feed 155 

where   they    should   be  marked 85 

untrained    .                                                                                             .  47 


246 


INDEX 


Shepherd  a  business   man 61 

his  high   calling 61 

his    room 75 

relation  to  the  flockmaster 61 

salary    62 

should  not  be  interfered  with 62 

Shearing,    styles 136 

Size,   when  it  will  win 25 

important    7 

where  it  counts , 26 

Skin,  what  is  a  pink? 16 

feeding   affects   color 16 

Skins,    paleskins 15 

Slaughtering    205-206 

and  dressing— all   about  it 208-224 

Somersets  for  early   lambs 142 

Show  stock,   classes 44 

Showing   47 

Shows,   some  of  the  difficulties 43 

making    entries 40 

Stanchion,  way  to  make 100 

Stimulants,  the  value  of 98 

Stock,  young  to  be  forced 84 

Straw,  the  value  of 83 

Stretches    173; 

Scrag    11 

Stud  flocks,  shearing 135 

Success,    the    keynote    of 7 

Sulphur  and  lime  a  depilatory 186 

and  lime  for  scab  condemned 175 

Sweet   spirits   of   nitre 78 

Sweepstakes 44 


T 


Tagging,   when   and   how 128-129' 

ear   110 

Tapeworms — remedies    177 

Tapping  for  bloat 191 

Tar 78 

should  not  be  used  for  marking 85 

Teaser,  a  wether  as  a ^ 70- 

the   care    of.   70' 

Teats,    sore — cause— treatment 194, 


INDEX  247 


'Technical  points 10 

Teeth,  number  a  sheep  has 128 

Ticks 186 

and   show   sheep 34 

Training,   importance   of 47 

Tricks,    do   not   deceive   judges .* 29 

Trimming   36,  37,  54 

not    difficult    to    acquire 36 

Trocar,  shepherd  should  always  carry 191 

Troughs,  water  in  the  barn 71 

Tuberculosis,    symptoms / 182 

Tumors    182 

Turnips     154 

as  a  feed  for  breeding  ewes 91 

Twist    11 

difference  between  good  and  poor 12 

good   denotes   strength; 12 

imperfect    12 

Type,   changes  in 9 

should   be   looked   for 69 

varies   10 

u 

Udder,     caked 182 

Umber 35 

Urine,    its    damage    to    ewes 22 

Urinary  tioubles,  rams  cause — symptoms,  treatment 192 

V 

"Ventilation     79 

"Vetch  spring  as  a  fattening  ration 156 

spring   as  a  starter   for  show  sheep 156 

sand    156 

Tetches     157 

•  value  of  spring 50 

"Vigor,   the  way  to   maintain ,                    .  69 


w 

Washing,   soap   for 33 

the  benefit  of . . .  .    33 


248  INDEX 


Watering  devices,  automatic 71 

Weaning,  care  of  ewes 113 

best  time US 

Wethers,  the  fitting  of 40 

do  not  get  blubbery 40 

Whiskey  ". 7fr 

Whitewashing,  importance  of 17T 

Withers,  e-wjes  casting  their 174 

Wool  balls  in  lambs'  stomachs 17(* 

dark,  traces  of 10- 

Worms  and  oil  cake 164 

the  stomach,  how  to  treat 16& 

Wound,  to  prevent  flies  from  bothering 118- 

Y 

Yeaning,   trouble  of 97 

the    first    symptoms 96T 

and    stretches... 17S 


ding  Dip  of  the 
Americas " 


The  Original  and 

NICOTINE 
DIP 

Approved  and  used  by  the 
United  States  Government 
It  is  convenient,  cheap  and 
an  unfailing  cure  for  all  o>& 
sheep  parasites. 

Made  by 

SKABCURA  DIP  CO., 

CHICAGO.  ILL.    ST.LOUIS.MO. 


ZENOLEUM 

the  best  known  and  most  uniform  and  reliable  sheep 
dip  on  the  market,  is  not  only  the  best  thing  in 
which  to  dip  your  show  sheep,  but  also  your  lambs 
and  the  general  flock. 

Most  of  the  shepherds  of  the  country  know 
these  things  to  be  true  from  experience. 

We  make  the  statement  here  for  fear  that  these 
facts  may  have  escaped  your  attention. 

To  those  who  have  never  tried  it  we  would  say 
that  a  single  gallon  of  ZENOLEUM  in  a  fair  trial, 
will  prove  most  convincing. 

It  is  endorsed  by  the  most  eminent  veterinar- 
ians of  the  country,  and  practically  all  of  the 
Experiment  Stations  where  trials  and  tests  have 
been  conducted.  Being  an 

Absolutely   Non-Poisonous 

preparation  it  will  not  nauseate  or  in  any  way 
debilitate  the  sheep  or  other  live  stock,  and  may 
be  given  internally  with  impunity.  It  rids  all 
animals  of  stomach  and  intestinal  worms.  As  a 
dip  it  excels  for  SCAB,  TICKS,  RED  LICE, 
MANGE,  ECZEMA,  CATTLE  TICKS,  HOG 
LICE,  POULTRY  LICE,  etc.  As  a  disinfectant, 
dressing  and  healing  lotion  it  excels  for  SHEAR 
CUTS,  WIRE  CUTS,  CASTRATION,  DOCKING, 
GRUBS,  SCREW  WORM,  GALLS,  SCRATCHES, 
THRUSH,  CRACKED  HEEL,  CHAPPED  FEET, 
etc.  Send  for  a  copy  of  our  "VETERINARY 
ADVISER"  which  we  mail  free.  Ask  for  price  on 
a  TRIAL  GALLON  OF  ZENOLEUM.  Address 

15he  ZENNER  DISINFECTANT  CO. 

110  Bates  St..  Detroit,  Mich. 


DIPPING  SHEEP 


TUT  AS  now  become   as 
shearing  of  them, 
interests   of   his   flock 


much   a  necessity  as  the 
No  man  who  has  the  best 
at  heart  now  neglects  this 
important 
work.       It 
not    only 
improves 
the   physi- 
cal   condi- 
tion   and 

health  of  the  sheep,  but  it  insures  a  better  and 
more  uniform  growth  of  wool  and  a  practically  per- 
fect fleece.  Particularly  should  the  show  sheep  be 
dipped  as  they  will  come  in  contact  with  all  kinds 
of  conditions  and  diseases  when  being  exhibited 
amongst  the  sheep  of  less  careful  shepherds.  Our 

"Goshen"  Galvanized  Steel  Sheep  Dipping  Tank 

is  at  once  the  best  and  most  convenient  means  of  dipping 
sheep.  Made  of  best  galvanized  steel,  strongly  reinforced 
at  top,  bottom  and  corners  with  heavy  iron.  Seams 
stripped  with  bar  iron  on  both  sides  of  plates  and  riveted 
through.  Cleated  run-way  at  one  and  metal  roller  at 
opposite  end.  Is  economical  of  dip,  and  saves  time, 
labor  and  money. 

"Goshen"  Steel  Tanks 

will  be  found  the  best  of  their  kind. 
We  make  them  in  all  sizes,  all 
shapes  and  for  all  purposes.  Our 
line  includes  Tank  Heaters,  Feed 
Cookers  and  Low  Wagon  Wheels.  Everything  of 
"Goshen"  quality  which  means  always  the  best  procur- 
able. Our  complete  catalogue  will  be  mailed  free  upon 
application. 

KELLY  FOUNDRY  &  MACHINE  CO. 

No.  65  Purl  Street  GOSHEN,  INDIAN* 


THE  FAIRFIELD  STUD 

I  Lincoln 
I  Sheep . 

WE  have  always  for  sale  "J 000  or  more  rams 
suitable  for  stud  or  range  purposes,  also 
tWO    Carloads  or   more    of   yearling 
ewes  and  ewe  lambs. 

We  have  fifty-four  breeding  ewes  in  our  flocks 
which  were  the  best  that  could  be  imported  from 
England,  also  eighteen  imported  rams.  Some  of 
these  being  unbeaten  in  three  countries,  viz :  Eng- 
land, Canada  and  the  United  States.  In  1899  at 
the  leading  fairs  in  Canada  and  the  Michigan  State 
Fair  we  competed  for,  in  the  regular  breeding  class, 
twenty  first  prizes  and  were  awarded  fifteen  out  of 
that  number.  At  the  same  fairs  we  competed  for 
seven  sweepstakes  winning  six  of  them.  In  1900 
at  Toronto,  London  and  Chicago,  in  the  regular 
breeding  classes,  we  competed  for  twenty-two  first 
premiums  and  were  awarded  sixteen  out  of  that 
number.  We  also  won  five  sweepstakes  out  of  seven. 
Our  sales  for  the  year  1900  amounted  to  over 
sixteen  hundred  head. 

Parties  wishing  to  see  or  buy  good  Lincolns  are  always  wel- 
come at  our  home,  which  is  situated  one  mile  east  of  Ilderton  and 
ten  miles  north  of  London. 

J.  H.  PATRICK 

Ilderton,  Ontario,  Canada 


A  GOOD  SHEEP  MARKING  INK. 


One  of  the  greatest  annoyances  that  sheep 
breeders  have  had  to  contend  with  has  been  the 
marking  of  sheep.  Ranchmen  have  tried  many 
preparations  for  this  purpose,  but  have  found  all 
more  or  less  lacking  in  the  most  essential  points. 
The  requirements  of  a  sheep-marking  ink  are: 
that  it  shall  be  permanent;  that  it  may  be  easily 
taken  from  the  fleece  when  the  wool  goes  to 
market;  that  it  may  be  easily  applied;  shall  be 
ready  for  use;  that  it  shall  not  settle,  evaporate 
or  fade  out  before  it  is  taken  from  the  package, 
and  that  it  shall  make  a  distinct  and  lasting 
mark,  without  in  any  manner  hurting  the  wool 
or  diminishing  its  price.  Such  an  ink  is  hard  to 
find,  but  Heath  &  Milligan  Mfg.  Co.,  paint  and 
color  makers,  of  Chicago,  claims  to  have  such 
an  ink  and  has  advertised  it  extensively  during 
the  past  year,  backing  up  its  claim  to  have  the 
only  perfect  material  of  this  kind  on  the  market 
with  numerous  testimonials  from  prominent  sheep 
raisers  who  have  used  the  ink  for  some  years. 
As  this  Company  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most 
reliable  in  its  line,  it  is  fair  to  presume  it  will 
make  its  claims  good. 


Established  1862. 


MALLORY 

COMMISSION 

COMPANY 

* 

Live  StocK 

Commission 

Merchants 


Money  to  Loan  to  Responsible  Parties. 

Write  for  Market  Letters. 
Largest  Receivers  of  Range  and  Native  Sheep. 

Two  Sheep  Salesmen  at  Chicago. 
Special  Sheep  Salesmen  at  each  market. 

Feeding  Sheep  and  Lambs  bought  on  Orders. 


Consign  your  Sheep  and  other  Live  Stock  to 

Mallory  Commission   Comp'y 

CHicago, 

Kansas  City* 

Sotitl*  St.  JosepH, 

SotltH  OmaHa, 

Siotix  City, 

SotitH  St.  Paul. 


Shepherd 

above  all  others  is  the  man  who 
should  feed  ground  feed.  It 
should  be  fresh  too — ground 
every  few  days.  If  he  has  a 
mill  of  his  own  he  is  complete 
master  of  the  situation. 


The  Peerless  Grinder 

as  shown  in  cut  will  fill  the  bill  exactly.  Crushes  and 
grinds  ear  corn,  cob  and  all,  perfectly.  Also  all  kinds  of 
grains  either  singly  or  when  mixed.  Crushes  oil  cake, 
etc.  Has  large  reserve  capacity,  is  strong,  durable  and 
requires  the  minimum  of  power  for  such  machines. 

Write  for  circulars,  prices,  etc.     See  address  below, 


ADAM—  "The  Fence  Man" 

makes  the  very  best  fence  for  keeping  in  sheep  and 
keeping  out  dogs,    wolves,    etc.       Different  styles  and 

varieties,  different  weights, 


tle  and  other  live  stock. 
Address 


11 

meshes.       Full    of    lateral 

wires  and  cabled  at  top  and 
bottom.  It  is  strong,  dur- 
able and  lasting.  Injures 
nothing,  makes  no  scars 
and  pulls  no  wool.  You 
can  sleep  soundly  in  the 
security  of  "Adam  Fence." 
Equally  good  for  hogs,  cat- 
Write for  circulars,  prices,  etc, 


W.  J.  ADAM,  Box  A-55,  Joliet,  III. 


The  Acknowledged  American 

Authority  on  all  Matters 

Pertaining  to  Sheep 

and  Wool. 

For  years  it  has  been  recognized  as  the  leading 
exponent  and  advocate  of  the  American  shep- 
herd's interest.  Its  corps  of  writers  include  the 
leading  breeders  and  experimenters  with  sheep, 
and  its  special  correspondents  keep  its  readers 
in  close  touch  with  the  sheep  and  wool  situation 
in  ail  parts  of  this  country  and  all  over  the  world. 
There  is  no  paper  upon  which  the  sheep  man 
can  rely  for  information  with  greater  confidence. 

Semimonthly,  goca  Year. 

Sample  Copies  Free. 


HZINE 


/ 


PUNCH 


WEIGHT  ONLY  20  DUNCES 


Special  Offer. 


For  $1  we  will  send  Wool 
Markets  ocSiieep  1  year 
and  our  I'rc-iiiiumCoui- 
Lmaiioii  Riveter,  Rivet 
Magazine  ana  Buckle 
Punch,  the  handiest  con 
trivance  you  ever  saw. 
It  menus  harness,  belt- 
ing, etc.,  instantly,  dnv- 
ingiiithe  rivet,  clinching  1C  and  counter-tanking 
both  heads.  Holds  fitly  rive:s,  weighs  20  ounces. 
Every  farmer  needs  this  appliance.  Can  be  car- 
ried in  vhe  pocket. 


We  make  liberal  inducements  to  agents. 


Draper  Publishing  &  Supply  Co., 


CHICAGO,  ILLINOIS. 


Hi 


viw 


w 


m 


j#*»*j* 


"SWIM  BATH" 

Non-Poisonous 

SKeep     Dip     Powder 

A  perfect  combination  of  NICOTINE 
and  SULPHUR,  Contains  NO  LIME. 
Cures  scab  and  mange.  Kills  ticks  and 
lice.  Cheapest  and  best.  Liberal  dis- 
counts on  large  orders.  Write  for  par- 
ticulars. 

The  Tobacco  Warehousing  and  Trading  Co. 

LOUISVILLE,    KY. 


OSGOOD 


Is  the  simplest  high  grade,  low  priced  Scale  on  the  market.  You 
cannot  afford  to  be  without  one.  Write  for  our  SPECIAL  PRICE 
and  liberal  terms.  Double  or  combination  beams;  large  or  small 
platforms  and  any  capacity  We  refer  with  permission  to  Editor 
Wool  Markets  and  Sheep,  Chicago,  regarding  our  responsibility. 


OSGOOD    SCALE    CO. 

Box  186.  BINGHAMTON,  N.  Y. 


LAIDLAW'S 


THISTLE  'IBBnMrjW  .All      BRAND 


NICOTINE 

Sheep  Dips 


COMPRISING 


Patent  X  L  All 

Nicotine  Carbolic  Compound 

Laidlaw's  Extract  of  P\ire  Tobacco 

Double  Strong- 
Endorsed  by  United  States  Government 

Laidlaw's  Concentrated        ^        ^ 
^          ^          ^          Tobacco  Powder 

Contains  Correct  Proportion  of  Sulphur 

All  Mixed  and  Ready  for  Bath 

A  Dip  as  Cheap  as  Lime  and  Sulphur  and  Does  Not 
Injure  the  Fibre  of  the  Wool 

L  AIDLAWS  are  the  oldest  Nicotine  (Tobacco)   J 
Dip  Manufacturers  in  the  world.      Their  Dips  have   < 
a  world-wide  reputation  for  sure   cure.      For  Pam-   4 
^   phlets  and  Prices  write  J 

LAIDLAW,  MACKILL  &  CO.,  Ltd. 

RICHMOND,  VA. 


•••• 


•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 


Allen     Sheep-Shearing 
Machine  Go. 


ECONOMY  IN  MAINTENANCE 


The 


American 
Sheep- 
Shearing 
Machine 


POSITIVELY 

THE  MOST 

DURABLE 


IT  is  becoming  a  well  known  and 
established  fact  that  the  Allen 
Sheep-Shearing  Machine  isjiot 
only  the  most  economical  mactiine 
to  maintain,  but  also  the  average 
sheep  shearer   can  do  more  work 
with   the   above   machine    in    ten 
hours  than  with  any  other. 

WHY?  Because  of  its  extreme  dura- 
bility, reliability  and  simplicity.  Noth- 
ing but  the  finest  material  and  the  best 
of  workmanship  used  in  the  construct- 
ion of  the  ALLEN.  Many  of  the  old 
objections  sustained  by  wool  growers 
have  been  done  away  with  by  the  intro- 
duction of  this  machine  on  the  market. 
The  ALLEN  COMPANY  will  be  pleased 
to  give  all  particulars  to  intending  pur- 
chasers and  furnish  them  with  blue 
prints  of  shearing  sheds,  catalogues  and 
circulars. 


References.  J.  T.  Murphy,  Helena,  Mont. ;  B. 
G.  Shorey,  Merrill,  Mont.;  J.  B.  Long  &Co., 
Great  Falls,  Mont.;  J.  N.  Williamson,  Prine- 
ville,  Ore.:  A.  H.  Allen,  Baggs,  Wyo.;  Robt. 
Taylor,  Casper,  Wyo. ;  Minn.  Transfer  Ry.  Co., 
St.  Paul,  Minn.;  A.  Largilliere,  Soda  Springs, 
Idaho;  S.  W.  Hamilton,  Winona,  Minn.;  Fre- 
mont Stock  Yard  Co.,  Fremont,  Neb.;  and  hun- 
dreds of  others. 

ALLEN  SHEEP-SHEARING  MACHINE  GO. 

11  Exchange  Ave.  -_.  . 

u.s.  Yards  Chicago,  III. 


RAMBOUILLETS 

American  Merinos 
Delaines 


Rambouillets  are  the  largest 
flock  of  pure  bred  von  Homeyers 
in  the  country. 

Our  American  Merinos  have  been 
winners  both  in  the  show  ring  and  as 
sellers,  having  sold  more  stock  rams  to 
American  and  foreign  breeders  than 
any  other  flock. 

Our  Delaines  are  of  the  best  quality. 

We  are  the  largest  breeders  and 
dealers  in  range  rams  and  choice  rams 
for  stud  purposes.  We  can  furnish  you 
anything  you  want  in  the  way  of  a 
Merino  sheep.  Experience  of  a  life 
+  time  at  your  disposal.  Over  1 200  head 
sold  to  range  and  stud  flock  breeders 
in  1900.  Send  stamp  for  our  booklet, 
''Merino  Sheep."  If  you  want  the 
best,  address 

A.  A.   WOOD  &  SON 

Hickory  Grove  Saline,  Mich. 


Here  is  a  Clincher! 


PAT. 

APCD. 

FOR 


RIVET 
MAGAZINE 

HOLDS 
50 

RIVETS 


WEIGHT  ONLY   20  OUNCES 


The  handiest  little  contrivance  for  the  farmer  you 
ever  saw.     The 

PREMIUM 

Combined  Riveter, 
Rivet  Hagazine 
and  Buckle  Punch. 

It  will  mend  harness,  belting  or  anything  else  that  a  well  clinched 
rivet  will  hold.  It  is  strong  but  can  be  carried  in  the  pocket.  It 
drives  in  the  rivet,  clinches  it  and  counter-sinks  both  heads  with  one 
movement.  It  will  save  more  than  its  cost  in  a  few  weeks  time. 
Holds  fifty  rivets  and  is  always  ready  for  use.  Price  $1.  post  paid. 

<iiT)£i/-i  n  \   f}ff  pk*»      To  introduce  this  handy  appliance  we 
^pcddl  V/11C1  .     Wjn  Send  either  of  the  following  pa- 
pers for  one  year  and  the  Riveter,  to  any  address  for  only  $1.00. 

Dairy  and  Creamery, 
Commercial  Poultry, 
Wool  Markets  and  Sheep. 

Three  great  semi-monthlies — the  leaders  in  their  class.  All  three 
papers  and  the  riveter  $!.5'J.  Don't  run  the  risk  of  having  your 
harness  break  when  you  are  away  from  home.  Carry  the  Premium 
Riveter  with  you. 

DRAPER  PUBLISHING  &  SUPPLY  CO.,  Chicago,  Illinois. 

We  make  liberal  inducements  to  agents.  Sample  copies  free. 


*" '  «' 

•Sfc 


IWK™5**SI 


^Rf 
i^ 


THE  BEST 

INCUBATOR 

Is  the  One  that  Does  the  Most 
Satisfactory  Work. 

The  poultry  raiser  wants  the  incubator  which  will  give  him  the  best 
results- with  the  least  trouble— the  one  which  hatches  the  largest  per- 
centage of  eggs  and  produces  chicks  in  the  best  condition,  and  at  the 
same  time  makes  the  fewest  demands  upon  his  time  and  attention. 
We  have  such  an  incubator  in 

THE  RELIABLE 

and  we  have  an  equally  satisfactory  appliance  in  the  famous  Reliable  Brooders. 
They  are  used  all  over  the  world  and  have  a  record  of  successful  hatching  and  brood- 
ing, unsurpassed  by  any  machines  made.  They  will  do  for  you  what  they  have 
done  for  others. 

Our  2Oth  Century  Poultry  Book 

(second  edition)  describes  every  phase  of  the  poultry  question,  containing  chapters 
on  Poultry  Raising  on  the  Farm,  Feeding  for  Eggs,  Raising  Broilers,  Capons  for 
Profit.  Pekin  Ducks,  etc.  It  will  be  sent  free  for  10  cents  postage. 

Our  Poultry  Yards, 

We  give  our  personal  attention  to  breeding  extra  fine  fowls  of  all  the 
Standard  varieties.  Eggs  in  season.  Fully  described  in  our  20th  Century 
Poultry  Book. 

RELIABLE  INCUBATOR  AND    BROODER   CO., 

Box  81 5 r  Quincy,  Illinois* 


Maple    Grove    Herd 

OF = 

N?       CHEVIOT     SHEEP      ^ 


Champions   of  1900 


One  hundred  and  four  pre- 
miums won  in  seven  shows, 
including  all  sweepstakes  except 
one. 

Own  and  bred  the  Sweep- 
stakes Ram  at  the  International 
Live  Stock  Exposition. 

Sheep  of  both  sexes  for 
sale. 

For  further  information 
address 


F.    B.     HARTMAN 

Fincastle,    Indiana. 


d  Creamery 


The  Dairy  Farmer  makes  money  because  he  puts  brains 
into  his  business.  No  man  can  be  a  really  successful  dairy- 
man unless  he  is  a  man  of  intelligence.  The  business  has 
made  enormous  strides  in  the  past  decade,  because  of  this 
intelligent  knowledge  brought  to  it. 

Dairy  and  Creamery 

is  a  semi-monthly  paper,  which  discusses  milk  and  butter 
r  making  from  a  practical,  every  day  standpoint.  It  takes 
up  the  dairy  and  creamery  question  in  all  its  phases,  the 
breeding  of  dairy  cows,  the  care  of  calves,  feeding  for  milk, 
care  of  milk,  ripening  of  cream,  making  of  butter,  and  is  in 
constant  touch  with  what  practical  men  are  doing.  It 
doesn't  preach  nor  scold— it  just  talks  plain,  common  sens^. 

50  CENTS  A  YEAR, 

(24  numbers.) 
Send  for  free  sample  copy. 


&))eC12ll  Offer  •  send  Dairy  and 
Creamery  one  year  and  our  Premium 
Combined  Riveter,  Rivet  Magazine  and 
Buckle  Punch,  the  handiest  contrivance 
youeversaw.  It  mends  harness,  belting, 
etc.  instantly,  driving  in  the  rivit, 
clinching  it  and  counter-sinking  both 
heads.  Holds  fifty  rivets,  weighs  20 
ounces.  Every  farmer  needs  this  ap- 
pliance. Can  be  carried  in  the  pocket 


Draper  Publishing  and  Supply  Co.,  Chicago.  111. 


We  make  liberal  inducements 
to  Agents. 


Chapelle   Flock 


•OF- 


DELAINES 


m 


IT  has  always  been  our  aim  to  have 
one  of  the  leading  flocks  of  Delaine 
sheep  in  the  United  States,  and  we  can 
now  honestly  claim  that  honor.  Our 
flock  has  always  taken  the  lion's  share 
of  premiums  at  the  •  leading  Fairs  and 
Expositions,  and  our  breeding  animals 
have  gone  into  and  done  good  service 
in  most  of  the  great  flocks  of  the 
country. 

The  ram  Sensation,  now  at  the  head 
of  our  flock,  is  one  of  the  best  yearling 
rams  in  America  today.  Weight  172 
pounds.  He  will  shear  by  April  1 
close  to  30  pounds  of  wool.  Ewes  and 
rams  of  the  highest  quality  always  on 
hand. 


A.  T.  GAMBER 

WAKEMAN,  HURON  COUNTY, 

On  L.  S.  &  M.  S.  R.  R.,  60  Miles  East  of  Toledo 


OHIO 


KILL  THE  TICKS  t 
ON  SHEEP       ' 

The  most  effective  vermin  exterminator,  the        ^p 
one  easiest  to  use  and  surest  in  results  is 

Lambert's      f 
Death  to  Lice. 

> 
/ 


It  kills  ticks  on  sheep,  lice  on 
horses,  cattle,  hogs  and  poultry, 
and  exterminates  fleas  and  all 
other  vermin.  No  other  in- 
secticide is  so  largely  used  nor 
gives  such  satisfaction.  Posi- 
tively non-injurious. 


100  Ounces*  -  -  -  $1.00 
5  Ounce  Sample  Package,  -  -  lOc 
Valuable  Booklet  Free. 

D.  J.  LAMBERT,  Mfr., 

Box  461,  Apponaug,  R.  I. 

(Death  to  Lice  will  keep  plants  free  from  vermin.) 


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HILLSIDE: 
STOCK  FARM 

Short    Horn 
Cattle 
Liecester 


Our    Flock  of   Liecesters   took   First    Prize 

at    Michigan    State    Fair  in   1898,  1899 

and    1900;    also    Diploma  for  Ram 

and    four   of    his    get    in    1899 

and   1900. 

Our    Liecesters    are    of   the    best    type  and 
quality.     Write    for   prices. 


JoHn     Marshall     CSL    Sons 

Cass    City 
Michigan 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 


AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL  BE  ASSESSED  FOR  FAILURE  TO  RETURN 
THIS  BOOK  ON  THE  DATE  DUE.  THE  PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  SO  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY  AND  TO  $1.OO  ON  THE  SEVENTH  DAY 
OVERDUE. 


RT  14  1944 


ejTt^ 


LD  21-100m-12,'43  (8796s) 


16166' 


10249 


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